Less than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift significant weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present most favorable case, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to increase availability, through approaches including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research points to patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their normal food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for developing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
