Fewer than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its first guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and lifelong support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by measures such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, because their normal appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
