Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the medications.
With more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and continuous care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can help people shift considerable body mass, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to increase availability, through approaches including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Function
The injections replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
People commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies indicates patients may see weight return within a year of stopping the medication, because their normal appetite resume.
To be overweight or obese increases your risk for experiencing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
