Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the therapies.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to expand access, through measures including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so people reduce food intake.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence points to users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their usual food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
