Fewer than a tenth of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to increase availability, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
Patients typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the drug, as their normal appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight increases your chance for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
