Under one in 10 people who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first advice on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and continuous treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to widen access, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users reduce food intake.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the drug, when their typical food cravings resume.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
