If one health story has dominated 2025, it is the remarkable rise of GLP-1 medications, widely known as 'anti-obesity' jabs. These weekly injections, initially developed for type 2 diabetes, have surged into the mainstream as a powerful tool for weight loss, endorsed by clinicians and celebrities alike. Their proliferation, however, has created a profound dilemma for the global public health community.
A Surprising Pivot from the World Health Organization
For decades, the World Health Organization (WHO) framed obesity as an environmental and political crisis, advocating for systemic changes like sugar taxes, advertising bans, and improved food affordability. Its recent recommendation in 2025 that all countries adopt GLP-1 drugs, such as semaglutide, as a primary treatment for obesity therefore marks a significant departure. The agency's rationale is stark: people are dying from obesity-related illnesses now, and these drugs are a proven, effective tool.
For many public health experts, this feels like a capitulation. Prof Devi Sridhar, Chair of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh, notes the bitter irony. One set of corporations profits from creating unhealthy food environments that contribute to obesity, while another now profits from selling a pharmaceutical solution. The core socioeconomic drivers—where child obesity often reflects child poverty—risk being ignored if a weekly injection is seen as the answer.
The Tension Between Quick Fixes and Root Causes
The danger, as Sridhar outlines, is that GLP-1s offer politicians a convenient way to appear active on obesity while avoiding tougher battles with the food industry. Why push for affordable fruit and vegetables or healthy school lunches when a jab can 'treat' the problem? This approach medicalises a condition deeply linked to income, education, and resources, potentially letting systemic failures off the hook.
Yet, Sridhar acknowledges the WHO's difficult position. The clinical benefits for individuals with serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and fatty liver disease are real and compelling. When faced with immediate, life-threatening consequences, a drug that reliably reduces weight and improves metabolic health is an undeniable asset. The WHO's push for global accessibility, including in low-income nations, stems from this urgent clinical reality.
Beyond the Jab: The Unchanged Needs of the Human Body
Despite the promise, Sridhar urges caution. These drugs are not a magic bullet. They can require lifelong use, as weight often returns after stopping treatment. They carry side effects and do not replace the fundamental needs of the body: nutritious food and regular physical activity.
Importantly, weight loss alone does not confer the unique benefits of exercise, which strengthens the heart, builds muscle, and protects mental health. There is no 'exercise pill'. Sridhar concludes with a hope for 2026: that alongside pharmaceutical advances, society will find the will to create environments where healthy living is accessible to all, reducing the reliance on a weekly injection.
Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh.
