Fewer than one in 10 people who could benefit from GLP-1 drug treatment can access it, the WHO warns in its first guidance on obesity medicines.
With more than one billion people now obese and projections suggesting this could exceed two billion by 2030, the UN health agency is calling for wider and fairer access to GLP-1 medications.
High costs, limited production capacity and supply chain constraints are major barriers to access, the WHO said.
The medicines are already on the WHO essential medicines list for overweight patients with diabetes.
“Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care,” said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“While medication alone won’t solve this global health crisis, GLP-1 therapies can help millions overcome obesity and reduce its associated harms.
He added: “Our greatest concern is equitable access.”
GLP-1 drugs mimic a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness, which helps people eat less.
People often start losing weight within weeks of weekly injections, though many regain weight within a year of stopping as appetite returns.
In the UK, these injections are prescription-only medicines. Some are available on the NHS, while more are sold privately.
The WHO warns against buying from unregulated sellers such as beauty salons or via social media.
Even in the best projected scenario, production could cover around 100 million people, under 10 per cent of those who need them, the WHO said.
The guidance urges countries and pharmaceutical companies to expand access through measures such as voluntary licensing, which lets other manufacturers produce affordable non-branded versions of patented drugs.
A patent on semaglutide, the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, is due to expire in several countries in 2026, allowing cheaper versions in markets including India, Canada, China, Brazil and Turkey.
Being overweight or obese raises the risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Obesity was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
