International WHO: Weight loss injections no solution to global obesity crisis
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of weight loss injections to treat obesity.
01.12.2025, 16:50
SDA
At the same time, it warns against exaggerated expectations of the so-called GLP-1 receptor agonists. "Let's be clear: Medication alone will not solve the obesity crisis," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva.
The WHO guideline includes the active ingredients liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide. These are contained, for example, in the drugs Saxenda, Wegovy and Mounjaro, which are used to treat obesity.
The guideline states that the three active substances can be used to treat obesity in adults, but not in pregnant women. A healthy lifestyle should be part of therapy, the WHO warned. "It is crucial that the use of GLP-1 does not replace a healthy diet and physical activity," said Tedros.
The WHO does not recommend the medication for non-obese people below a body mass index of 30.
More than one billion people affected
Obesity is currently one of the greatest health challenges, said the WHO chief. More than one billion people worldwide are living with this chronic disease, which causes additional illnesses such as diabetes or cancer. The WHO expects this number to double by 2030.
Tedros also called for poorer people and countries to be given access to affordable GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The drugs were originally developed for diabetes and have shown promise for weight loss as they reduce appetite and enhance satiety signals from the gut to the brain. However, there are still many unanswered questions about the possible long-term effects of this class of substances. The preparations have not been in use long enough to be able to assess them.
