Under a tenth of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it issues its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and continuous care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to broad access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the present most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to increase availability, through strategies like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence points to users may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the drug, as their normal hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
