The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated guidelines on the utilization of widely-used GLP-1 medications—such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound—in addressing the pressing global health issue of obesity.

According to a 2024 survey, approximately one in eight American adults have experimented with a GLP-1 drug, and the number of individuals with prescriptions is on the rise.

The WHO’s latest guidelines present two principal “conditional recommendations” regarding the use of these medications.

The first recommendation suggests that GLP-1 drugs can be prescribed to adults battling obesity, with the exception of pregnant women. This advice remains “conditional” due to limited data on the long-term effects of these relatively new treatments. For instance, further research is needed to understand the consequences of discontinuing the medication.

Additionally, the financial implications of long-term use are significant and warrant consideration.

GLP-1 drugs are typically administered by a weekly injection. They work by targeting hormones that affect appetite, making people feel fuller. Drugmakers Novo Nordisk (which manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy) and Eli Lilly (which makes Mounjaro and Zepbound) have both announced some recent price cuts, but a monthly dose of the weight loss drugs still costs hundreds of dollars at best.

The second major piece of WHO guidance emphasizes that GLP-1s are not a cure-all, and must be considered as a tool alongside others. People with obesity may want to consider “intensive” changes to their diet and exercise alongside using the medication.

“Medicine alone will not solve the problem,” said Dr. Francesca Celletti, WHO senior advisor for obesity, when presenting the new guidance.

That guidance is in line with existing research, which indicates users need to ensure they’re getting all their nutrients even when the medications prompt them to cut back portion sizes. GLP-1s can also cause people to lose muscle mass, making exercise and strength training even more important.

The WHO adds obesity is not just a problem that should be treated individually, but one that requires societal change.

“We must not neglect what we need to do in prevention. Neither must we fool ourselves, thinking that we can medicate ourselves out of the situation,” said Dr. Karen Sealey, the director of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition and the Inter-American Heart Foundation.