Fewer than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it releases its first advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the present most favorable outlook, the supply of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to widen availability, by measures like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the drug, because their typical appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight increases your chance for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
