Obesity and GLP‑1 Drugs

The WHO has issued guidance on GLP‑1 drugs for obesity and warned that access could fall to fewer than one in 10 people who need them by 2030, with Director‑General Dr. Tedros characterizing obesity as a chronic disease and positioning GLP‑1s within comprehensive, lifelong care. The agency recommends access strategies such as pooled procurement, tiered pricing and voluntary licensing, and cites the global burden — about 3.7 million deaths and more than one billion people affected, expected to double — with obesity costs potentially reaching $3 trillion annually by 2030.