Less than 10% of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it releases its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and lifelong support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via strategies such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
People typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to patients may see weight return within a year of stopping the drug, as their usual hunger return.
Being overweight or obese increases your chance for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
