Under one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it publishes its first advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift considerable weight, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic case, the production of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase availability, via strategies such as patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence indicates people may see weight return after a year of stopping the treatment, when their typical hunger resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for developing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
