Less than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice encourages governments and firms to widen access, by measures like licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
The injections mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, because their normal hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
