In recent years, medically managed weight loss using glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications has been on the rise. GLP-1 medications are natural hormones that regulate blood sugar and appetite and have historically been used to help manage diabetes. These medications have more recently been used to manage obesity by slowing digestion and reducing appetite.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recommended the use of GLP-1 medications as treatment for obesity in a new guideline published in JAMA®. These are the first guidelines released by WHO recommending GLP-1 medications. Previous recommendations focused on GLP-1 medication use for diet and exercise.
“Obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease affecting over 1 billion people worldwide, driving substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Glucagon-like peptide-1 therapies (GLP-1 therapies) provide clinically meaningful weight loss and broad metabolic benefits. In response to Member State requests, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued guidelines for adults living with obesity,” the report stated.
Building a Foundation of Health Habits Alongside Medical Support
In the guidelines, WHO officials recommended that long-term GLP-1 medications be combined with intensive behavioral therapy – such as physical exercise, diet, and counseling sessions – to maximize and sustain benefits.
“Medication alone cannot solve the global obesity burden. The availability of GLP-1 therapies should galvanize the global community to build a fair, integrated, and sustainable obesity ecosystem,” said the WHO officials.
The guidelines also encouraged countries to ensure access to GLP-1 medications for not only disease management, but also health promotion and prevention policies and interventions for the general population and those who are at higher risk.
A Pivotal Step Forward
These WHO guidelines mark a real turning point in how obesity is viewed and treated worldwide. For the first time, a major global health authority is formally acknowledging that obesity is a chronic, biologically driven disease – not a matter of willpower – and that effective medical therapy has an important role.
GLP-1–based medications give us tools that go beyond diet advice alone. They help regulate appetite, improve metabolic health, and support durable weight loss when combined with structured lifestyle changes.
The guidelines also send a clear message to health systems and policymakers: access to evidence-based obesity care should be part of standard healthcare, not an optional luxury. This has implications for insurance coverage, national treatment pathways, and how clinicians everywhere approach the disease.
In practical terms, these recommendations legitimize medical obesity treatment and open the door for more patients to receive therapies that were previously harder to access. However, there is still a lot of work to do, especially when it comes to social determinants of health, public health education and awareness, and lowering the cost of therapies across the board.
Valley LifeStart
Valley LifeStart: The Center for Weight and Wellness™ works with patients to evaluate the many traditional and evolving treatments to develop a personalized care approach based on medical history, family history, lifestyle, and personal preferences.
We are proud to offer both surgical and nonsurgical medical weight management approaches to weight loss. Nonsurgical medical weight management at Valley includes dietary and lifestyle changes, exercise plans, and FDA-approved weight loss medications. We provide medical weight management for individuals who either do not qualify for surgery, or for those who are interested in nonsurgical weight loss options. Our team works with you to find the right combination of strategies that will help you meet your weight loss goals.
For more information about Valley LifeStart, please visit ValleyHealth.com/WeightLoss.
About the Author
Dr. Naser Gharaibeh serves as the Medical Director of the Metabolic Medicine and Weight Loss Program for Valley Health System.
