Overview
- The guidance, published in JAMA, conditionally supports long-term treatment in adults with obesity using liraglutide, semaglutide or tirzepatide alongside intensive behavioral therapy.
- Recommendations apply to adults with a BMI of 30 or higher and exclude pregnant women, pairing medication with structured diet, physical activity and counseling.
- WHO warns supply and cost will restrict reach to fewer than 10% of eligible people—about 100 million—without pricing reforms, voluntary licensing, generics and stronger procurement and health-system capacity.
- The organization frames obesity as a chronic disease requiring lifelong, person-centered care that integrates prevention, medical and surgical options with early diagnosis and comorbidity management.
- WHO says the guideline will be updated as real-world safety and efficacy data expand, notes regulators are adding safety warnings, and indicates guidance for children and adolescents is expected next week.