Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and lifelong treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the present best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen access, through strategies such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights 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 replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to people may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, because their typical hunger return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
