Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the present best projected case, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to increase access, by strategies like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
Individuals usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates users may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the drug, as their usual hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
