Weight-loss drugs can help ‘reverse’ obesity pandemic, say WHO experts – POLITICO

The paper, released Wednesday, was authored by WHO Global Health Expert Francesca Celletti, WHO Nutrition Director Francesco Branca and Jeremy Farrar, the WHO’s chief scientist.

They pointed out that clinical trials have suggested that these new types of drugs could lead to reductions in body weight of between 10 and 25 percent, compared with a dummy drug, as well as beneficial effects on a range of other conditions including cardiovascular disease, hyperglycemia and kidney dysfunction.

However, the authors said that “medication in isolation will not be enough to address the obesity crisis,” and that there needs to be “universally available services to prevent, treat, and manage the disease in a way that is accessible, affordable, and sustainable.”

The WHO is currently drawing up a guideline on the use of this class of drug, which is expected to come out in July.

While they’ve shown to have impressive clinical results, some experts have stressed concerns about whether the right people will access the in-demand drugs, while others have warned governments not to over-rely on weight loss drugs to deal with under-pressure health systems.