Fewer than a tenth of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the present most optimistic scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand availability, through measures including licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their typical appetite return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity affects people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
