Less than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its first guidance on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The advice encourages governments and firms to expand access, by strategies such as patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research indicates people may see weight return after a year of halting the medication, as their usual appetite come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for contracting health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
