Less than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to broad access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the current best projected case, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase access, by approaches such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
Individuals typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research suggests people may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, as their typical hunger come back.
To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
