Fewer than one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and ongoing care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand access, via measures including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence indicates people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, because their typical food cravings return.
To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for developing diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
