Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and continuous care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic case, the supply of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on countries and companies to increase access, via measures such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
The injections replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, as their typical appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for contracting diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
