Fewer than 10% of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift considerable body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand availability, through measures like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests patients may see weight return after a year of stopping the treatment, as their normal appetite return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
