Fewer than one in 10 patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it releases its initial advice on the medications.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current best projected scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to increase access, via measures including patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research points to patients may see weight return after a year of stopping the medication, as their normal food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
