Author: Azuka Chinweokwu Ezeike, MBBS, FWACS, FMCOG, MSc (Public Health)
Introduction
The World Health Organisation (WHO) now recommends GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 medicines for the long-term management of obesity in adults. Released on December 1, 2025, the guideline recognises obesity as a chronic disease and supports the use of medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide alongside lifestyle and behavioural interventions.
This marks a significant shift in global obesity care, moving beyond short-term weight loss to comprehensive, sustained treatment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more in adults.
Obesity is no longer seen merely as a risk factor. It is recognised as a chronic disease that affects how the body regulates weight, appetite, and overall health. Globally, obesity affects over one billion people and increases the risk of non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
These conditions account for millions of deaths worldwide each year. In children and adolescents, obesity increases the likelihood of early-onset non-communicable diseases, with health consequences that often extend into adulthood.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are medications that mimic glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone involved in appetite regulation, satiety, and blood sugar control.
Common examples include:
GIP/GLP-1 dual agonists act on both glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 receptors.
An example is:
These medicines were initially developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but growing evidence shows that they also support meaningful and sustained weight loss.
The WHO’s recommendation is based on the understanding that obesity is a chronic, disease that requires long-term care, not short-term interventions.
Managing obesity effectively means addressing its medical, psychological, and social impacts, rather than focusing solely on weight reduction. Care must be integrated into routine clinical practice and reflect the lived experiences of people living with obesity, including stigma, access to care, and long-term adherence challenges.
The WHO issued conditional recommendations, based on moderate-quality evidence, with two key points:
No. The guideline clearly states that medications should not replace lifestyle and behavioural interventions.
Instead, optimal obesity care combines:
These components are expected to work together, not in isolation.
This recommendation represents a shift toward evidence-based, compassionate care. It also signals to governments, insurers, and healthcare systems that obesity treatment deserves the same long-term investment and structure as other chronic diseases.
To maximise the impact of this guideline, several steps are needed:
WHO’s recommendation of GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 medicines highlights the need to approach obesity as a long-term condition that requires person-centred, evidence-based care. Medicines may support treatment, but only when integrated into comprehensive and compassionate care.
WHO issues global guideline on the use of GLP-1 medicines in treating obesity [Internet]. [cited 2025 Dec 18]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/01-12-2025-who-issues-global-guideline-on-the-use-of-glp-1-medicines-in-treating-obesity