Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to widen access, by measures such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Function
The injections imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so users reduce food intake.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their usual appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for contracting diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
