Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the present best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen access, by approaches like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
People typically start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their usual hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
