Under one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to increase access, through approaches such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies suggests users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, when their typical food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
