Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most optimistic scenario, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand availability, through measures including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
People typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, because their normal appetite return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
