Less than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and continuous care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the present best projected outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand availability, through approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
People usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the drug, as their typical food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
