Fewer than one in 10 patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it publishes its first advice on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current best projected outlook, the supply of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase availability, by measures such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
These medications mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, as their usual hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
