On Monday local time, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that drugs such as Mounjaro have great potential in addressing the global obesity crisis, and it is estimated that 2 billion people worldwide will be affected by obesity by 2030. Given the significant efficacy of these drugs in assisting weight loss, this means that the health systems of various countries are entering a "new chapter" in treating obesity and its associated fatal diseases.
This is also the first time that the WHO has recommended the use of GLP-1 drugs for the management of adult obesity, marking an important shift in the UN agency's approach to obesity treatment.
The WHO calls on countries to take measures to ensure that those in need of GLP-1 drugs can access these medications. It also points out that, typically, eligible adults should be able to use such drugs, but pregnant women should not use them.
The organization also warns that pharmaceutical companies must lower the prices of drugs such as Mounjaro and Ozempic and increase production, otherwise a large number of patients in poor countries will be excluded.
The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the same day: "Although drugs alone cannot solve this global health crisis, GLP-1 drugs can help millions of people overcome obesity and reduce the associated risks."
The WHO mentioned in the released guidelines: "The significance of GLP-1 therapy goes far beyond a scientific breakthrough; it marks a gradual transformation in social perception - obesity is being redefined from a 'lifestyle disease' to a complex, preventable chronic disease, which opens a new chapter."
The statement also said: "GLP-1 therapy has become an important innovation in addressing the global obesity challenge. The advent of these drugs marks a key turning point in the management of obesity treatment and its complications, and related comorbidities."
However, the current global production capacity is limited, meaning that at most only about 100 million people can receive the medication, accounting for only 10% of the potential beneficiaries (1 billion people). The WHO warns that, based on the obesity standard of a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30, the global number of obese people will double from the current 1 billion to 2 billion, and the related economic cost is expected to reach 3 trillion US dollars by 2030.
The WHO calls on pharmaceutical companies to consider implementing "step pricing", that is, charging lower prices in low-income countries to achieve wide accessibility in the context of a global surge in demand.
However, the WHO also emphasizes that drugs alone cannot reverse the obesity trend. Users should also improve their diet, increase physical activity, and receive lifestyle guidance.
The WHO acknowledges that more and more evidence shows that GLP-1 drugs can reduce the risks of various serious and even fatal events and diseases, including heart attacks, strokes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and kidney and artery diseases.
The WHO points out that to ensure that all those who need GLP-1 drugs can access the medication, three major obstacles need to be overcome: production capacity, drug accessibility, and affordability; the readiness of the medical system to provide such treatment; and the implementation of universal healthcare coverage.
In September this year, the WHO included GLP-1 drugs in the basic drug list for diabetes treatment, but it was not included in the list for obesity treatment at that time.
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