Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and ongoing treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, through measures such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their normal food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
