Fewer than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Given over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic outlook, the production of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by measures including patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
Patients typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates users may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the drug, when their normal hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
