Modern drugs for the treatment of obesity, such as Mounjaro, represent one of the most promising therapeutic options in the fight against the global increase in this diagnosis, according to the World Health Organization.
Although scientific studies and clinical trials in humans have shown exceptional effectiveness in lowering body weight and reducing the risk of numerous chronic and deadly diseases, their availability is still very limited. Currently, only about ten percent of people who need these drugs have access to therapy.
According to the WHO, these drugs mark a turning point in how health systems approach the treatment of obesity, by applying new, more modern therapeutic strategies with the potential to improve public health in the long term.
The World Health Organization emphasized that countries play a crucial role in ensuring the availability of GLP-1 therapies to patients who would benefit from them. These therapies are generally considered appropriate for adults who meet medical criteria. However, their use is not recommended during pregnancy.
One of the biggest challenges remains the limited global production, which is why it is currently possible to reach only a much smaller share of potential users. Estimates show that a maximum of about 100 million people have realistic access to these drugs, although as many as a billion could benefit from their use.
On the other hand, a sharp increase in the prevalence of obesity is expected, whereby the number of people with a body mass index above 30 could double by 2030. Such a trend, according to WHO warnings, could also lead to an enormous increase in the financial burden on health systems, with costs reaching around 3 trillion dollars.
The WHO also indicates that the pharmaceutical industry will need to review its existing pricing policy and significantly expand production capacity for drugs such as Mounjaro and Ozempic. Otherwise, there is a severe risk that these treatment options will remain unavailable to many patients in lower-income countries, deepening existing health inequalities.
The Director General of the World Health Organization emphasized that pharmacological interventions cannot, on their own, treat obesity globally. Nevertheless, therapies based on the GLP-1 mechanism represent a significant support in controlling body weight and reducing the health complications associated with obesity in a large number of patients.
The World Health Organization has officially presented its position on drugs from this group, through a specific professional address intended for health workers. In that document, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, it is emphasized that the importance of GLP-1 therapy goes beyond the framework of classical scientific progress.
They speak of a paradigm shift in the understanding of obesity, which is no longer seen exclusively as a consequence of individual lifestyle habits, but as a complex, chronic condition that can progress and can be treated preventively and therapeutically.
The World Health Organization points out that drugs from the GLP-1 class are one of the key modern developments in the global fight against obesity. Their appearance marks a turning point in the therapeutic approach to overweight, but also in the management of its numerous complications and associated chronic diseases.
The official WHO announcement is based on the work of three distinguished experts – Francesca Celletti, Luz De Regil, and Jeremy Farrar, who currently serves as the organization’s assistant director-general for health promotion and disease prevention, and was previously its chief scientific adviser and director of the Wellcome Institute in London.
The document emphasizes that pharmacological interventions alone cannot stop the rise in obesity prevalence. The optimal effects of GLP-1 therapy are achieved only as part of a broader approach that includes diet, increased physical activity, and ongoing lifestyle counseling.
The WHO states that an increasing number of clinical studies confirm that drugs in the GLP-1 class have a significant protective effect against serious health outcomes. Their use is associated with a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular insult, as well as with better control of Type 2 Diabetes, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep-disordered breathing, and diseases of the renal and vascular systems.
Despite this evidence, the global implementation of GLP-1 therapies faces several structural barriers. Key challenges include limited production capacity and high costs that reduce the availability of medicines, insufficient readiness of the health system for their widespread and safe use, and uneven access to health care worldwide.
Scientists note that drugs for the treatment of obesity represent an important therapeutic tool, but that they cannot independently solve the complex problem of obesity; they must be part of a comprehensive approach to public health.
Katherine Jenner warns that in the UK, access to GLP-1 drugs is still limited, while supply is unstable and administration through the NHS is strictly selective. These drugs can significantly help people with chronic obesity, but they are not suitable for all patients. Their use requires integrated support to ensure safety and achieve optimal results.
Research shows that, in most people, lost body mass returns after therapy cessation, confirming that pharmacological treatment alone is insufficient for treating obesity at the population level. It is therefore clear that medication can play an important role, but must be part of a wider approach that includes dietary changes, physical activity, and ongoing support.
