WHO Considers Adding Obesity Drugs to Essential Medicines List to Combat Global Epidemic

The Growing Concern Around Global Obesity

Obesity is a significant public health epidemic across the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 13% of adults worldwide are obese, with a staggering 70% of those in low and middle-income countries. Obesity is a leading risk factor for several chronic diseases, including heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. While preventive strategies and education interventions remain important for addressing obesity in low and middle-income countries; medical interventions such as weight loss drugs have also been considered.

Request Submitted By Doctors For Inclusion Of Obesity Drugs In WHO’s Essential Medicines List

The WHO is now considering adding drugs that combat obesity to its essential medicines list after a request was submitted by three doctors and a researcher in the United States. They are specifically asking to consider liraglutide in Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug, Saxenda. The active ingredient promotes weight loss by slowing down digestion and reducing appetite, and has helped people reduce their body weight up to 10%.

Reviewing The Request: WHO’s Panel of Advisers

A panel of advisers to WHO will next month review the request for adding obesity drugs as an essential medicine on their list. If included, it would be a significant step towards fighting obesity globally. The updated essential medicines list is expected to be due in September.

Saxenda: A New Approach To Global Obesity

Saxenda belongs to a class of medicines called GLP1 receptor agonists, which have long been utilized for treating diabetes. Saxenda has reported that it can help people reduce 5%-10% of their body weight. This medicine’s potential inclusion into the essential medicines list could mark a new approach by the health agency towards global obesity.

Wegovy: A More Powerful Treatment

Wegovy, a newer and more powerful treatment, leads to up to 15% body mass reduction, but it can cost more than $1,300 a month in the United States. If Saxenda is included in the essential medicines list, this would lead the way for Wegovy and eventual generics to be added.

Great Significance For Low And Middle-Income Countries

The addition of obesity drugs to the WHO’s essential medicines list could have great significance for low and middle-income countries with high rates of obesity and overweight individuals. The hope is that governments would be encouraged to make these drugs more widely available, similar to what happened with HIV drugs about a decade ago.

Public Health Expert’s Warning

While the inclusion of obesity drugs on the essential medicines list may seem like a quick solution to weight loss worldwide, many public health experts warn against introducing such medicines too broadly as solving obesity requires preventive strategies and sustained efforts at education.

Varying Approaches By High-Income countries

High-income countries are taking varying approaches for how they use these medicines, contemplating whether they can be prescribed by government-sponsored health systems or covered by insurance.

In conclusion, including obesity-fighting drugs in WHO’s essential medicines list could have significant benefits for low and middle-income countries struggling with high rates of obesity. It would encourage the governments to make them more accessible and affordable in their countries. However, adding obesity-fighting drugs is not seen as a cure-all and preventive strategies and education interventions remain important for addressing global obesity issues.

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