Less than one in 10 patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand availability, through measures such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so users eat less.
Patients commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their normal appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
