Under a tenth of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it issues its first guidance on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to widen availability, through measures such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their normal food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
