Less than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its first guidance on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the current best projected outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to widen availability, via approaches like voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence points to patients may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, because their typical appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
