WHO guideline on the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies for the treatment of obesity in adults

Obesity is one of the defining health challenges of our time, affecting more than 1 billion people globally and contributing to millions of preventable deaths each year. Yet despite its scale and impact, the global response remains fragmented, underfunded and is often shaped by outdated views that frame obesity as a lifestyle issue rather than what it truly is: a chronic, progressive and relapsing disease.

This guideline offers evidence-informed recommendations on the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptides (GIP)/GLP-1 dual agonists – a new generation of pharmacotherapies for treatment of people living with obesity. This is WHO’s first clinical guidance on the pharmacological treatment of obesity in adults. It represents a critical step toward establishing a global standard of care – an evolving foundation upon which countries can build evidence-based, equitable and sustainable obesity treatment programmes. The guideline will be continuously updated and expanded in response to the evolving evidence base and emerging real-world data on safety, feasibility, effectiveness and system-level requirements.