Under one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its first guidance on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via measures such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests patients may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, when their typical food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for developing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
