The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Monday that a group of medications containing the GLP-1 hormone is effective in combating obesity and diabetes, and can help fight obesity, which affects more than one billion people worldwide. These medications, with brand names including Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy, appeared about 10 years ago and initially proved their effectiveness in treating diabetes, and more recently in promoting weight loss in people with obesity. These medications are called GLP-1 because they mimic the action of this hormone, which simultaneously plays a role in insulin secretion and creating a feeling of fullness through mechanisms in the brain. The WHO published guidelines for the first time on Monday on how to help these medications overcome the serious health problem of obesity. According to the organization's figures, more than 3.7 million people died in 2022 from diseases related to being overweight or obese, which exceeds the total number of deaths from the three main infectious diseases that cause death: malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS. Without decisive action, the number of people suffering from obesity worldwide could double by 2030. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned in a statement that "obesity is one of the serious global health problems." He explained at a press conference that "these new medications are a powerful tool that gives hope to millions of people." He said that the new guidelines treat "obesity as a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive care for life." The WHO guidelines clarify that adults, except for pregnant women, can use GLP-1 medications with the aim of "long-term treatment of obesity." However, the organization noted that its recommendation is "conditional" (not mandatory), as more data is needed, especially regarding the long-term effectiveness and safety of these treatments. The WHO also emphasized that these medications alone cannot bring about a radical change in the fight against obesity, which is a "complex chronic disease" that can "increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease... and some types of cancer." The high prices of GLP-1 medications raise concerns about their availability in the poorest countries.
