Obesity is a chronic disease and has been identified as such since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared so in 1997. Now, nearly three decades later, the WHO has taken a landmark step forward in addressing this global health challenge by issuing the first-ever guidelines on the use of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) therapies for the treatment of obesity in adults.
With more than 1 billion people worldwide now living with obesity, this guidance couldn’t come at a more critical time.
But here’s what’s essential to understand: while these guidelines represent a major advancement in obesity treatment, the WHO is crystal clear that GLP-1 drugs alone cannot solve the global obesity epidemic.
What Are the New WHO Guidelines for GLP-1 Medications?
Released in December 2025, the WHO guidelines provide two key conditional recommendations for GLP-1 therapies in obesity treatment.
First, GLP-1 therapies may be used by adults (excluding pregnant women) as a long-term obesity treatment. The recommendation is conditional because while the efficacy of these medications is evident, there’s limited data on their long-term safety, maintenance after discontinuation, and potential equity implications.
Second, intensive behavioral interventions, including structured programs involving healthy diet and physical activity, may be offered to adults prescribed GLP-1 therapies. This combination approach may enhance treatment outcomes.
Why Do Conditional Recommendations Matter?
Great question! The WHO designates these recommendations as “conditional” for several important reasons.
While research demonstrates that these medications effectively treat obesity and improve metabolic outcomes, we’re still learning about the long-term effects of GLP-1.
Additionally, these medications currently come with high costs, and many health systems aren’t yet prepared for widespread implementation.
As we tell our patients, having FDA-approved medications is just the beginning. We need to ensure they’re accessible, affordable, and used as part of a weight management strategy.
To learn more about our weight loss and management program, contact us today and schedule your free orientation.
The Three Pillars of Obesity Treatment
The WHO views obesity as both an individual and systemic problem, and approaching the broader obesity ecosystem involves these three pillars:
Creating Healthier Environments
Population-level policies must promote health and prevent obesity before it develops. This includes addressing food systems, built environments, and social determinants of health.
Protecting High-Risk Individuals
Targeted screening and structured early interventions can identify and support individuals at high risk of developing obesity and related conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Ensuring Access to Comprehensive Care
This is where GLP-1 therapies, combined with behavioral support, play their essential role. Our team at CONCI prescribes medications like semaglutide (better known by the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) as part of comprehensive weight management programs that include close dietary support and in-body testing to monitor fat mass and lean muscle mass changes.
How Do GLP-1 Medicines Work?
Let’s take a look below at the mechanisms that make these medications effective for obesity treatment.
Mimick Natural Hormones
GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic hormones that your small intestine naturally secretes when you eat a meal. These hormones help lower blood sugar, support weight loss, and reduce the risk of heart and kidney complications.
Multiple Pathways to Weight Loss
The medications work through several mechanisms:
- They slow gastric emptying, meaning food moves through your stomach more slowly, helping you feel full longer
- They reduce appetite by acting on areas of the brain that control hunger
- They improve insulin secretion in response to meals, which helps regulate blood sugar
- They decrease glucagon release, further supporting metabolic health
Studies show that adults treated with GLP-1 therapies can achieve significant weight loss. On average, patients may lose substantial percentages of their body weight when these medications are combined with lifestyle modifications.
Why Medication Alone Isn’t Enough
We get this question a lot, and it is a legitimate concern! While GLP-1 therapies represent the first truly efficacious treatment option for adults with obesity, they cannot reverse the obesity epidemic on their own.
The Reality of Access
Even with rapid expansion in production, GLP-1 therapies are projected to reach fewer than 10 percent of those who could benefit by 2030. Without deliberate policies around manufacturing, affordability, and system readiness, access to these therapies could actually worsen existing health disparities.
The Importance of Comprehensive Care
Research demonstrates that combining GLP-1 medications with behavioral interventions produces better outcomes than medication alone. This means working with healthcare providers on:
- Structured dietary programs that ensure adequate nutrition
- Regular physical activity tailored to your abilities and goals
- Monitoring of body composition to preserve lean muscle mass
- Ongoing support for behavior change and lifestyle modifications
As we tell our patients in the clinic quite frequently, “All weight loss is not healthy weight loss,” because you want to preserve and lose as minimal lean muscle mass as possible.
What This Means for CONCI Patients
Our team at CONCI has always approached weight management with a multidisciplinary strategy, and the new WHO guidelines align perfectly with our philosophy.
If you have any questions, please contact us today.
Evidence-Based Prescribing
Our physicians have been involved with research on weight loss medications since the 1990s.
We prescribe FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, including liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide, as part of comprehensive treatment plans. These medications are now recognized by the WHO as essential tools in treating obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease.
Comprehensive Monitoring
Our approach includes in-body testing to monitor changes in fat mass and lean muscle mass throughout your weight loss journey. This ensures you’re losing weight in a healthy way that preserves your metabolic health.
Dietary Support
CONCI has registered, licensed dietitians, which makes us experts in nutrition and health. We know that close dietary support is essential when taking GLP-1 medications. These drugs slow gastric emptying and reduce appetite, which means getting adequate nutrition requires careful planning and professional guidance.
Long-Term Perspective
The WHO guidelines emphasize that the management of obesity requires lifelong, person-centered care. This means medical experts need to utilize sustainable approaches that support people living with obesity long after they lose weight.
The Global Context
Obesity affects people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024. Without decisive action, the number of people with obesity is projected to double by 2030.
The global economic cost of obesity is predicted to reach $3 trillion annually by 2030. These staggering numbers underscore why the WHO’s guidance is so important and why comprehensive approaches are essential for controlling this global health challenge effectively and equitably.
Safety Considerations
The WHO guidelines specifically exclude pregnant women from GLP-1 therapy recommendations due to limited safety data in this population.
Additionally, the global demand for these medications has fueled the spread of falsified and substandard products, threatening patient safety. This is why working with qualified healthcare providers and obtaining medications through regulated channels is essential.
Our team is more than happy to answer any questions you may have about GLP-1 therapy, weight management, and more. Feel free to contact us.
Key Takeaways
- The WHO has issued its first guidelines on GLP-1 therapies for obesity treatment, recognizing obesity as a chronic disease requiring comprehensive care
- GLP-1 medications like liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide may be used for long-term obesity treatment in adults, but recommendations are conditional due to limited data
- Medication alone will not solve the obesity crisis. Comprehensive strategies, including healthy environments, targeted interventions, and lifelong person-centered care, are essential
- Combining GLP-1 therapies with intensive behavioral interventions, including structured diet and physical activity programs, may enhance treatment outcomes
- Access to these medications remains limited, with fewer than 10 percent of those who could benefit expected to have access by 2030
- Working with qualified healthcare providers ensures safe, effective, evidence-based treatment that includes proper monitoring and support
Sources
World Health Organization. (2025). WHO issues global guideline on the use of GLP-1 medicines in treating obesity. https://www.who.int/news/item/01-12-2025-who-issues-global-guideline-on-the-use-of-glp-1-medicines-in-treating-obesity