The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of weight loss injections to treat obesity.
At the same time, she warns against exaggerated expectations of the so-called GLP-1 receptor agonists. “To be clear: Medicines alone will not solve the obesity crisis,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the head of the WHO.Image: keystone
The WHO guidelines include the active ingredients liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide. These are contained, for example, in the drugs Saxenda, Wegovy and Mounjaro, which are used to treat obesity.
The directive states that the three active ingredients can be used to combat obesity in adults, but not in pregnant women. A healthy lifestyle should be part of therapy, warned the WHO. “It is crucial that the use of GLP-1 does not replace a healthy diet and physical activity,” said Tedros.
The WHO does not recommend the medication for non-obese people with a body mass index of 30 or less.
Obesity cases expected to double by 2030
Obesity is currently one of the biggest health challenges, said the WHO chief. More than a billion people worldwide live with this chronic disease, which causes additional illnesses such as diabetes and cancer. The WHO expects the number to double by 2030.
Tedros also called for poorer people and countries to have access to affordable GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The active ingredients were originally developed for diabetes and have shown promise for weight loss by reducing appetite and increasing satiety signals from the gut to the brain. However, many questions remain unanswered, such as the possible long-term consequences of this class of substances. The preparations have not been in use long enough to be able to estimate them. (sda/dpa)