WHO Guidelines on GLP-1 Medicines for Obesity

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released its first guidelines on the use of GLP-1 medicines to tackle the obesity crisis, recommending their long-term usage alongside intensive behavioral therapy.

Understanding Obesity

• Obesity: Described as a chronic disease needing lifetime care.
• Comprehensive treatment should include: 
  • Screening and early diagnosis
  • Management of complications and co-morbidities with pharmaceuticals and surgeries

Global Obesity Statistics

• Currently, 1 billion people worldwide live with obesity, including 188 million children and adolescents.
• The numbers could double by 2030 if unresolved.
• Obesity is a risk factor for chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart diseases.

GLP-1 Therapies

• There are 12 GLP-1 therapies approved for obesity or Type-2 diabetes.
• 40 additional agents are in development for varied indications.

Guideline Recommendations

• WHO supports long-term use in adults barring pregnant women.
• Recommendations are cautious due to limited long-term data.
• Equitable access to medications is a priority.
• Current production can cover only 100 million people, less than 10% of those affected.

Barriers and Solutions

• Major barriers include high costs, limited production, and supply chain issues.
• WHO lists these medicines as essential, proposes generic manufacturing, and pre-qualification for broader access.

Healthcare System Improvements

• Proposed changes include: 
  • Training healthcare providers
  • Establishing patient registries and referral pathways
  • Strengthening procurement and cold-chain systems
  • Implementing robust monitoring frameworks