Under 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to increase access, through measures like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
These medications imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the treatment, because their normal appetite come back.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
