What are the new WHO guidelines for obesity treatment?

The WHO has issued guidelines recommending weight-loss drugs for adults with obesity, recognizing it as a chronic disease requiring long-term management.

Who should receive weight-loss drugs first in India according to Dr. Anoop Misra?

Priority should be given to adults with BMI over 35 or BMI over 30 with severe obesity-related co-morbidities like diabetes or heart disease.

What are the main challenges for accessing new obesity drugs globally?

Challenges include short supply, unequal availability across regions, and prohibitively high costs, with current production meeting only 10% of global need.

Home / Health / WHO Obesity Guidelines: New Era for Weight-Loss Drugs

WHO Obesity Guidelines: New Era for Weight-Loss Drugs

5 Dec, 2025

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Summary

WHO issues first-ever guidelines for obesity treatment with weight-loss drugs.
Obesity is recognized as a chronic, relapsing disease needing long-term management.
Equitable access, high costs, and supply shortages challenge drug availability.

WHO Obesity Guidelines: New Era for Weight-Loss Drugs

The World Health Organization has issued its inaugural guidelines for treating obesity, acknowledging it as a chronic and relapsing medical condition rather than a cosmetic issue. The recommendations suggest using weight-loss therapies, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, for long-term treatment in adults, excluding pregnant women. These medications should be coupled with intensive behavioral therapies, including lifestyle counseling and meal replacements, though evidence for these co-interventions is of low certainty.

Globally, equitable access to these drugs is a significant hurdle, compounded by supply shortages and high prices. Current production capacity can only serve about 10% of the estimated 100 million individuals living with obesity worldwide. India is actively working on its own diagnostic and treatment guidelines, with experts emphasizing the prioritization of adults with a BMI over 35 or those with a BMI over 30 who have severe obesity-related co-morbidities.