The World Health Organization has issued its first guideline on treatments to support millions of people struggling with obesity.
The guideline specifically recommends the use of glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, therapies, a class of drugs that includes tirzepatide, liraglutide, and semaglutide, which are found in popular weight-loss treatments such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.
WHO said these therapies may be used by adults — excluding pregnant women — for the long-term treatment of obesity, which has become a serious public health issue now affecting more than 1 billion people globally. WHO defines obesity in adults as having a body mass index of 30 or higher.
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About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
