Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, by approaches like licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, because their normal appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
