With weight-loss drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide taking the world by the storm — the World Health Organisation (WHO) has, for the first time, released guidelines on using these therapies for the treatment of obesity — defined as a chronic, relapsing disease. While weight-loss has been treated as a cosmetic issue for years, the entry of these effective medicines has created a shift towards recognising obesity as a medical condition, which needs to be treated and managed to reduce risk of other chronic conditions like diabetes and heart diseases. Earlier this year, the inter-government agency had included these drugs in their list of essential medicines — a list that forms the basis for many country’s health systems ensuring access to them, government procurements, and medical reimbursements. What are good practices and recommendations in the guidelines? First, the therapies may be used for the treatment of obesity in all adults, except pregnant women, for long-term — meaning six months or more. This recommendation, however, remains conditional. This is because of limited data on the health impact …