Less than one in 10 patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial guidance on the therapies.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic case, the supply of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on countries and companies to expand access, through strategies like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies indicates patients may see weight return after a year of halting the medication, as their usual appetite come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
