WHO guideline on the use of GLP-1 therapies for the management of obesity
09/02/2026
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a guideline on the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies for the treatment of obesity in adults, recognizing obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease requiring lifelong care.
The guideline conditionally recommends the use of GLP-1 therapies as long-term treatment of obesity, defined as at least 6 months of continuous treatment. The guideline also conditionally recommends combining pharmacotherapy with intensive behavioral therapy to improve and sustain weight loss. The conditional grading reflects concerns about long-term safety data, cost, health system readiness, equity, variability in patient priorities, and context-specific feasibility rather than doubts about efficacy.