For the first time, the World Health Organization (WHO) is set to officially endorse the use of weight-loss medications for obesity in adults, revealed by Reuters. This marks a shift in its approach to managing the global health crisis. Meanwhile, the UN has called for strategies to improve access to treatment for low- and middle-income countries.
According to WHO, over one billion people worldwide are obese; and according to the World Bank, around 70% of them are in low- and middle-income nations.
In clinical trials, participants lost between 15% and 20% of their body weight, depending on the medication.
Common obesity medications mimic the hormone that slows digestion and increases feelings of fullness. Such medications encompass Wegovy by Novo Nordisk and Zepbound by Eli Lilly. Such medications are classified as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which are primarily used to manage type 2 diabetes and obesity by regulating blood sugar levels and appetite.
These drugs were initially launched in the United States with a monthly cost exceeding $1,000 and still cost hundreds of dollars in high-income countries. Studies suggest that individuals may need to take the drugs for life to maintain weight loss.
It is has been WHO’s goal since 2022, to formulate on “a new set of recommendations for the prevention and management of obesity across age groups, children, adolescents, and adults.”
According to WHO, such drug-related recommendations are expected to be finalized by August or September this year. Moreover, they seek to include “how and when to integrate this class of drugs into a continuum of care model that involves clinical and lifestyle interventions.”
