Less than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and ongoing support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by approaches like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to patients may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their usual appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
