Under one in 10 patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major barriers to broad availability to the injections that can help people shift significant body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current best projected outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, through approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research indicates users may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, as their normal hunger resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
