Medicines alone will not solve global obesity woes: WHO

While obesity is growing as a global health challenge contributing to millions of preventable deaths each year the World Health Organization WHO in a new report on Monday said that medications like GlucagonLike Peptide1 GLP1 alone will not solve the problem affecting more than one billion people worldwideWHO defines obesity as having a Body Mass Index BMI of 30 or higher in adultsIt has approved GLP1 therapies to treat obesity as a chronic relapsing disease GLP1 receptor agonists are a class of medicines that help lower blood sugar support weight loss reduce the risk of heart and kidney complications and can even lower the risk of early death in people with type 2 diabetesBut the global demand for GLP1 therapies has fueled the spread of falsified and substandard products threatening patient safety and trustIn view of this the WHO has released its first guideline on the use of GLP1 therapies providing recommendations specifically for three agents used in the longterm treatment of obesity in adults liraglutide semaglutide and tirzepatideWith the new guideline the WHO has issued conditional recommendations for using these therapies to support people living with obesity in overcoming this serious health challenge as part of a comprehensive approach that includes healthy diets regular physical activity and support from health professionalsObesity is a major global health challenge that WHO is committed to addressing by supporting countries and people worldwide to control it effectively and equitably Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care WHO DirectorGeneral Dr Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusWhile medication alone wonrsquot solve this global health crisis GLP1 therapies can help millions overcome obesity and reduce its associated harms he addedObesity is a complex chronic disease and a major driver of noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer It also contributes to poorer outcomes for patients who have infectious diseases In addition the global economic cost of obesity is predicted to reach USD 3 trillion annually by 2030The new guidelines can help efforts to reduce skyrocketing health costs associated with managing the condition and associated health complicationsThe new WHO guidance maintains that the GLP1 therapies may be used by adults but excluding pregnant women for the longterm treatment of obesityIndividuals using the GLP1 therapies must also be offered intensive behavioural interventions including structured interventions involving a healthy diet and physical activityWhile GLP1 therapies represent the first efficacious treatment option for adults with obesity the WHO guideline emphasises that medicines alone will not solve the problem Obesity is not only an individual concern but also a societal challenge that requires multisectoral action the report saidIt recommended creating healthier environments through robust populationlevel policies to promote health and prevent obesity protect individuals at high risk of developing obesity and related comorbidities through targeted screening and structured early interventions and ensure access to lifelong personcentred careThe guidelines also emphasise the importance of fair access to GLP1 therapies and preparing health systems for the use of these medicines Without deliberate policies access to these therapies could exacerbate existing health disparitiesldquoEven with rapid expansion in production GLP1 therapies are projected to reach fewer than 10 per cent of those who could benefit by 2030 The guideline calls on the global community to consider strategies to expand access such as pooled procurement tiered pricing and voluntary licensing among othersrdquo the report saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever