Under 10% of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, via measures including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates users may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the drug, because their usual appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
