Under 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand availability, via approaches like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their normal appetite come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
