Under a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to widen access, through measures including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research indicates people may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the medication, as their typical hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight increases your chance for developing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
