Under a tenth of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad access to the injections that can help people shift significant body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present best projected outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The advice encourages countries and companies to increase availability, by measures including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
These medications replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, when their normal hunger resume.
To be above a healthy weight increases your chance for contracting health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
