Less than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it releases its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift significant body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the current most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to increase access, via approaches such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence indicates users may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the treatment, as their normal food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
