Under a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its first advice on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to increase access, through measures such as licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their usual hunger resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
