WHO Declares Obesity a Chronic Disease, Endorses Long-Term Use of GLP-1 Drugs Like Semaglutide..
Varai media.com online news,Mumbai,4 December 2025: In a landmark shift, the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially classified obesity as a “chronic, relapsing disease” requiring
Varai media.com online news,Mumbai,4 December 2025: In a landmark shift, the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially classified obesity as a “chronic, relapsing disease” requiring lifelong management and strongly endorsed glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) — including blockbuster drug semaglutide — as effective long-term treatments for adults with obesity.
Published on 1 December in JAMA, the new WHO guideline moves away from viewing obesity as a mere lifestyle issue and positions pharmacological therapy, particularly GLP-1 drugs, as a core component of comprehensive care alongside behavioural interventions, nutrition, physical activity, and management of comorbidities.
Key Highlights of the Guideline
- GLP-1 therapies recommended for long-term use (≥6 months) in adults with obesity, recognising sustained weight loss and the relapsing nature of the condition.
- Proven benefits extend far beyond weight reduction, including reduction in major cardiovascular events, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, blood pressure, progression of chronic kidney disease, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and improved management of type 2 diabetes.
- Additional protective effects noted in obstructive sleep apnoea, peripheral artery disease, and certain neurodegenerative conditions.
- Maximum outcomes achieved when GLP-1 drugs are combined with intensive behavioural therapy (IBT), structured dietary guidance, physical activity goals, and regular counselling.
India’s Growing Burden
India is in the grip of a rapidly worsening obesity epidemic. Currently one in four adults is affected, with projections indicating that one-third of the population could be obese by 2050. The annual economic burden is staggering: ₹2.4 billion in direct healthcare costs and an estimated ₹28.9 billion (nearly 1% of GDP) in lost productivity.
Access Remains the Biggest Hurdle
Despite strong evidence of efficacy, WHO issued only a “conditional” recommendation owing to high costs, limited global manufacturing capacity, and insufficient long-term safety data in diverse populations. Current production meets only a tiny fraction of the more than 1 billion people worldwide living with obesity.
The guideline urges governments and manufacturers to prioritise patients at highest cardiometabolic risk, introduce tiered pricing models, and accelerate development of more affordable delivery methods, including oral GLP-1 formulations.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated: “Effective medicines now exist to treat obesity and reduce its complications. The challenge is no longer scientific — it is to ensure these treatments reach the people who need them most, fairly and sustainably.”
Health experts have hailed the guideline as a potential turning point that could finally elevate obesity to the same level of clinical priority as diabetes and hypertension, paving the way for insurance coverage, national treatment protocols, and large-scale public-health responses in countries like India.
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