Fewer than one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the therapies.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on countries and companies to widen access, through measures like patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research indicates patients may see weight return within a year of halting the treatment, when their typical appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
