The World Health Organization has come out with the first ever guidelines on the global use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) medicines for “treating obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease.”
The WHO, in a blog post published on 1 December, notes that obesity is a global affliction and 3.7 million deaths were connected to the disease in 2024. The world health body claims that if decisive action is not taken, the figure can double by 2030.
The GLP-1 therapies were added to the WHO’s Essential Medicines List for managing type-2 diabetes in high-risk groups. Now with the new guideline, it has recommended the use of such drugs to over the ‘serious health challenge’ of obesity. However, such drugs are part of a comprehensive approach and cannot be expected to work on their own.
The WHO recommends healthy diet, physical activity, and consultation with health professionals as well.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said regarding obesity, “Obesity is a major global health challenge that WHO is committed to addressing by supporting countries and people worldwide to control it, effectively and equitably. Our new guidance recognizes that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care,” adding, “While medication alone won’t solve this global health crisis, GLP-1 therapies can help millions overcome obesity and reduce its associated harms.”
Two key recommendations by WHO
The WHO has issued two key recommendations regarding GLP-1 drugs:
1. These drugs maybe used by adults, except for pregnant women, in order to treat long-term obesity. However, the recommendation is on a conditional basis since data on the long-term side effects of these drugs is limited. There are also the issues of maintenance of the treatment, the costs of these therapies, as well as lack of preparedness of the health systems.
2. Adults living with obesity and prescribed GLP-1 treatments may also be offered intensive behavioural interventions, including healthy diets and physical activity. This recommendation is based on low-certainty evidence which suggests that it might enhance outcomes of this treatment.
Australian regulator issues mental health warning
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the Australian drug regulator, has issued a warning for those taking GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, Trulicity and Mounjaro.
The warning says that these pose mental-health risks, and doctors have been advised to “monitor patients for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behaviours, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behaviour,” as per a report by The Guardian.
The warning bases itself on the dozens of reports of suicidal behaviour and ideation, but there is no clear evidence to prove a casual link.
Moreover, the Moujnaro label now comes with a warning that women using this drug might see a possibly reduced effect of oral contraceptives.