Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and ongoing treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current best projected case, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice calls on countries and companies to widen access, via strategies like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests patients may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, because their typical food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
