Under one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its first recommendations on the medications.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the injections that can help people shift significant body mass, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most favorable case, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand access, through measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their normal appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
