Under a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under 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 health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand availability, by strategies including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
Patients typically start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical hunger return.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your risk for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
