Fewer than 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and continuous support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to universal availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present best projected case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by measures including voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so users eat less.
People typically start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, because their typical hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
