Fewer than 10% of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through strategies including licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence points to people may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the medication, when their usual hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your chance for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
