Nairobi, Kenya- The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing to recommend the use of modern weight-loss drugs for adults living with obesity, in a move that could reshape global health policy.
The draft guidance, published this week and open for consultation until September 27, signals a shift in how the world’s leading health body defines and treats obesity—not just as a lifestyle issue, but as a chronic disease.
A Shift in How Obesity Is Viewed Globally
For decades, obesity has often been framed as the result of poor personal choices.
The WHO’s draft guidelines challenge that notion, calling obesity a “chronic, progressive and relapsing disease” that now affects more than 1 billion people worldwide across both wealthy and low-income nations.
It remains a leading driver of preventable deaths, tied to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
At the heart of the recommendation is a class of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists—popularized by drugs first developed by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
Originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, these therapies have gained global attention for their effectiveness in weight management.
According to the WHO draft, the drugs should be used in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, in combination with counselling and lifestyle interventions.
A Critical Step Toward Standardized Care
If finalized, this would mark the first time the WHO has endorsed pharmaceutical treatments for obesity. Experts say this could set a new benchmark for national health systems, creating momentum for countries to incorporate the drugs into their treatment protocols.
Notably, the WHO draft guidelines are narrower than recommendations in some high-income countries. For instance, in the United States, doctors already prescribe the medicines to patients with a BMI between 27 and 30 if they also suffer from weight-related conditions such as hypertension or sleep apnea.
While the WHO stopped short of adding GLP-1 drugs to its Essential Medicines List earlier this month, it did approve their use for type 2 diabetes patients with coexisting health conditions.
That decision, health officials said, reflected concerns about the drugs’ steep cost and limited accessibility in low- and middle-income countries.
The WHO’s evolving stance highlights the tension between scientific progress and health equity. On one hand, the recognition of obesity as a medical condition requiring sustained treatment could reduce stigma and encourage more comprehensive care.
On the other, high prices for GLP-1 drugs risk deepening global health disparities, leaving vulnerable populations without access to potentially life-changing therapies.
The draft guidelines, now open for public comment, represent an early but significant step toward what could become a global standard of care. As the WHO works to finalize its recommendations, the debate over cost, access, and long-term outcomes will likely shape how quickly countries embrace these treatments.
