Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its first advice on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to widen availability, via strategies such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research suggests users may see weight return a year later of halting the treatment, when their normal food cravings come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
