Less than one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
With over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to broad access to the injections that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The advice encourages governments and firms to expand access, through strategies including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
People typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, when their usual hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
