Fewer than 10% of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its first recommendations on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The advice calls on countries and companies to widen access, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests users may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the medication, when their typical appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for contracting diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
