Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen availability, through strategies like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Individuals usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the drug, because their normal hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
