Under one in 10 people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the present most favorable case, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand access, by approaches including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies suggests patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, when their normal food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for experiencing health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
