Less than one in 10 patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the present most favorable scenario, the production of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, via approaches including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their typical hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
