The WHO learned to love ‘anti-obesity’ jabs in 2025. I don’t fully agree, but I get it
While GLP-1 drugs promise an easy fix, our bodies still need what they have always needed: healthy food and regular exercise
TL;DR
- GLP-1 drugs, used for type 2 diabetes, are now mainstream treatments for obesity, causing significant weight loss.
- Public health advocates have historically pushed for policy changes in nutrition and food systems, not pharmaceutical solutions.
- The rise of GLP-1s is seen by some as a surrender to corporate interests, where one industry profits from obesity and another from its reversal.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) now recommends GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment globally, a pivot from its previous stance.
- Critics argue that GLP-1s enable politicians to avoid tackling systemic food production and consumption issues.
- Despite weight loss benefits, GLP-1 drugs require lifelong commitment, have potential side effects, and do not replace the need for nutritious food and exercise.
- Physical activity offers unique health benefits, such as strengthening the heart and improving mental health, that cannot be replicated by medication.