The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a forceful recommendation that may reshape global efforts to combat obesity and overweight: modern medications designed to lose weight should be “universally accessible.”

Today, an estimated one billion people live with obesity, a number expected to double by the end of this decade if urgent action is not taken.

Yet only about one in ten individuals can afford the most advanced treatments available—many of them belonging to the family of GLP-1 medications, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, known commercially as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro. 

During a press briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the long-term value of these therapies: “While medications alone will not solve this global crisis, GLP-1 treatments can help millions overcome obesity and reduce its harmful effects.”

The guidance focuses on long-term use in adults, excluding pregnant women, and urges global health institutions to continue generating strong scientific evidence regarding their safety and effectiveness. 

One of the major breakthroughs of these medications is their ability to mimic the natural GLP-1 hormone, which regulates satiety, blood sugar levels, and essential digestive processes.

Although initially developed for diabetes management, their powerful impact on appetite and metabolism has turned them into a key tool in treating obesity. 

Numerous studies show that GLP-1 medications significantly reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes, highlighting their potential beyond weight loss alone. Nutrition and endocrinology specialists worldwide agree that these treatments have “revolutionized” clinical approaches to obesity, now recognized by the WHO as a chronic disease requiring lifelong management. 

In 2024 alone, an estimated 3.7 million people died from obesity-related causes—an alarming figure that underscores the urgency of expanding access to effective therapies. 

Controversy following the famous Ozempic cases

The inclusion of GLP-1 medications in the WHO Essential Medicines List could have significant implications for public-health policies. While WHO recommendations are not legally binding, they often guide countries in developing measures to improve access, regulate pricing, and curb the growing black market of unsafe, unregulated “weight-loss” substances. 

Medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have surged in popularity, boosted by endorsements from celebrities and public figures.

Elon Musk famously credited them for helping him lose weight, while artists such as Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian amplified their visibility. In high-income nations, GLP-1 usage has skyrocketed: in the United States, the share of patients using them rose from 5.8% to 12.4% between 2024 and 2025, marking the first meaningful decline in obesity rates in decades. 

While the trend is encouraging, it also exposes a stark disparity. In low- and middle-income regions, these medications remain financially inaccessible to most people. Without corrective measures, the so-called “revolution” in obesity treatment risks benefiting only a privileged minority. 

For the WHO, the push for universal access is not merely economic—it is ethical. As obesity is a chronic disease with major impacts on global morbidity and mortality, effective treatment should not be a luxury.

To truly transform global health outcomes, GLP-1 therapies must reach people everywhere, regardless of income or geography. 

In a world where obesity is rising at unprecedented speed, the WHO’s recommendation is a timely call to action for governments, pharmaceutical companies, and health systems.

The challenge ahead is to translate this guidance into tangible policies that enable millions to access treatments capable of changing—and saving—lives.