Fewer than one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current best projected case, the production of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to increase access, through approaches such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies suggests patients may see weight return after a year of halting the drug, as their normal hunger come back.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
