The World Health Organisation is calling for universal access to weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic amid a global obesity epidemic affecting a billion people.

WHO released its guidelines on Tuesday (AEDT), calling on governments to ensure the so-called “Hollywood drugs” are affordable to people who need them.

In Australia, however, a new health warning has been issued about a potentially harmful side effect of drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration said there was an increased risk of suicidal ideation from taking the medications.

The relatively new class of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists are used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity and has exploded in popularity.

But the WHO said access to the breakthrough medications was the biggest challenge. Even with rapid expansion in production, the drugs will reach less than 10 per cent of people who could benefit by 2030, it said.

“Our greatest concern is equitable access; without concerted action these medicines could contribute to widening the gap between the rich and poor, both between and within countries,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

WHO urged governments to consider programs and methods to broaden access to weight-loss drugs, like the health campaigns that helped with HIV.

Ozempic is a semaglutide taken as a weekly injection to treat diabetes. It is also widely used for weight loss, making it popular with celebrities like actress Rebel Wilson.

Other GLP-1 receptor agonists are a semaglutide sold as Wegovy; liraglutide sold as Saxenda; dulaglutide (Trulicity) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro).

England subsidises weight-loss drugs to help people treat obesity, but in Australia Ozempic is subsidised only for treating diabetes.

TGA warning

Australia’s TGA said patients taking any of these medicines should tell their health professional if they experienced new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or any unusual changes in mood or behaviour.

The update was issued after investigations by the TGA and other international regulators.

The product warning for tirzepatide (Mounjaro) was also updated to reflect a risk of decreased effectiveness of oral contraception when first taking or increasing the dose of the drug.

The TGA advised patients taking tirzepatide to switch to a non-oral contraceptive or add a barrier method of contraception for four weeks after first taking the medicine, and for four weeks after each increase in the dose.

It added that no GLP-1 receptor agonists should be used during pregnancy and that anyone with child-bearing potential should use effective contraception when using the drugs.

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-with AAP