Less than 10% of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most favorable case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand access, via approaches like patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the treatment, when their normal appetite resume.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.