WHO GUIDELINES ON GLP-1 OBESITY DRUGS

1️⃣ Context for UPSC

• Obesity → chronic disease + major driver of NCD burden

• WHO introduces first-ever global guidance for GLP-1 drugs

• Links technology-based weight management with equity concerns

Between 2025–2030, global economic cost of obesity projected to reach $3 trillion annually.

✨ Adds international & health governance dimensions → GS-2 + GS-3 hot topic

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2️⃣ What Are GLP-1 Therapies?

Role	Benefit
Acts like hormone GLP-1	Slows digestion, improves insulin release
Originally diabetes drugs	Now proven effective for weight loss
Metabolic benefits	Reduced cardiovascular & diabetes risk

Examples: Semaglutide, Liraglutide

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3️⃣ WHO Recommendation — Key Points (In UPSC-Table Format)

Feature	WHO Stand
Target group	Adults with obesity (excluding pregnant women)
Duration	Long-term use
Conditions	Must include intensive lifestyle interventions
Nature of recommendation	Conditional (due to limited long-term data & high costs)**
Rights lens	Equitable access emphasized

📝 Drugs are not standalone solutions — behavioural change remains foundational.

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4️⃣ Why Conditional?

Concern Area	Reason
Evidence	Insufficient long-term safety & discontinuation data
Affordability	High cost → inequality in access
Health systems	Risk of medicalizing obesity over preventive strategies

💡 Ethics + Economics + Public Health → all merged

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5️⃣ Significance for Global Health

• Recognizes obesity as a medical condition, not personal failure

• Could reduce future NCD spending

• Supports creation of integrated obesity care systems

• Encourages population-level prevention policies

📌 Aligns with SDGs:

• SDG 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing)

• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

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6️⃣ India Perspective (GS-3 Application)

Opportunity	Challenge
Epidemic levels of obesity & diabetes	Prohibitively expensive drugs
Scope for insurance + generics	Risk of misusing drugs without lifestyle changes
Pharma capacity for localisation	Lack of awareness & digital divide

Expert Insight (Indian Context):

“Real impact only when a large population segment can afford these drugs.”
→ Insurance + price regulation + public-sector R&D needed

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7️⃣ Ethical & Social Issues (For Essay & Ethics Paper)

• Equity vs. Technology: Access must not be restricted to elite

• Body autonomy vs societal pressures

• Risk of dependency on pharmaceuticals

• Public health focus should be on prevention first

🧩 Key value term: “Pharmaceutical intervention cannot overshadow lifestyle and policy-led prevention”

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8️⃣ Potential UPSC Questions

Mains (GS-2)

“WHO’s GLP-1 guidelines reflect a shift towards medical support for obesity but caution against over-reliance on pharmaceuticals. Discuss.”
(10 marks)

Mains (GS-3)

Evaluate the challenges India faces in ensuring equitable access to high-cost obesity therapeutics in the context of NCD burden.

Prelims MCQ

GLP-1 therapies primarily act by:
A) Suppressing immune response
B) Enhancing insulin secretion and slowing gastric emptying
C) Blocking fat absorption
D) Inhibiting cortisol release

✔ Correct: B