Fewer than a tenth of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and lifelong support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to widen access, through approaches including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests people may see weight return within a year of stopping the medication, as their usual appetite return.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
