Under one in 10 people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the present most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to widen access, via approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research indicates users may see weight return after a year of stopping the medication, as their usual food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
