GLP-1 medication has become the go-to treatment for people struggling with losing weight. As peptides are primarily prescribed for the management of diabetes, this is considered to be an off-label usage of the medication. That can create issues for patients without a diabetes diagnosis seeking a prescription for GLP-1. That may then lead to them purchasing the medication from less reliable sources, such as the trend of influencers promoting unbranded peptides.

The World Health Organization’s newly published guidelines on the use of GLP-1 for the treatment of obesity will be a positive step forward for those patients and others. Responding to health organizations in multiple countries, the WHO has classified obesity as a global health epidemic and a chronic disease for which GLP-1 is an approved treatment. The recommendation cites GLP-1's ability to address weight and fat through multiple systems as "more than a scientific breakthrough," and instead as inspiration for a holistic approach to fighting global obesity rates.

The updated recommendations are

1. GLP-1 therapies may be used by adults, excluding pregnant women, for the long-term treatment of obesity.
2. Adults who are prescribed GLP-1 should also have access to intensive behavioral interventions, including structured interventions involving healthy diet and physical activity
    

From the WHO Guidelines

“Despite the growing burden, the global response to obesity remains fragmented and under-resourced. Most health systems are not yet equipped to treat obesity as a chronic disease…These challenges are compounded by widespread stigma, misinformation and a lack of demand for care, all of which prevent many people living with obesity from receiving the services they need and deserve.

Moreover, obesity continues to be treated in many public health strategies as a behavioural or modifiable risk factor – leading to delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment and missed opportunities for comprehensive care. Until recently, pharmacological options for obesity management showed limited and often unsustainable impact. However, recent therapeutic advances…have transformed the treatment landscape.

Originally developed for treatment of type 2 diabetes, these agents have demonstrated clinically significant and lasting reductions in body weight (5-16%) in clinical trials, along with an array of health benefits…

These innovative medical therapies are making it possible to incorporate effective pharmacotherapy as one component of an integrated intervention into chronic obesity care models…There is an urgent need for global guidance that ensures the appropriate, safe and inclusive use of these therapies across diverse health systems.

This WHO guideline is grounded in the recognition that obesity is a chronic disease requiring long-term care that goes far beyond weight reduction alone.”
 

Impact on Med Spas

The guidelines can help shift the perception of obesity from a personal issue to a medical one, which empowers patients to receive additional resources. The recommendation for combining pharmaceutical and behavioral interventions supports the multi-modal approach taken by medical aesthetic professionals specializing in weight loss. Med spas have been able to provide these services for patients who could not otherwise get approval. There is now potential for increased competition between independent clinicians and hospital-based providers.

Looking further ahead, the WHO's new focus on this issue is likely to spur further research and development of effective treatment options. The medical aesthetic industry is primed to continue to innovate in this space. 


Learn More

Medical Weight Loss Resource Page

FAQ on Compounded GLP-1

Legal Issues Surrounding Weight Loss Medication

Read the Full WHO Report