Under one in 10 people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present best projected outlook, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to widen access, via strategies such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so people eat less.
Patients usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the treatment, because their typical hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
