Less than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the current most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen availability, through approaches including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
These medications imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
People typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the drug, because their typical hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
