WHO releases first guidance on long-term use of GLP-1 drugs for obesity

The World Health Organization on Monday issued its first comprehensive recommendations on using GLP-1 medications to treat obesity, signaling a major shift in how the condition is addressed globally. The guidance — published in JAMA — supports long-term use of drugs such as semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide in adults when clinically appropriate, while stressing that medication must be paired with sustained lifestyle support. More than 1 billion people around the world are currently living with obesity — a figure projected to double by the end of the decade. WHO estimates the condition contributed to 3.7 million deaths last year.