Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic case, the supply of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, via measures like licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
The injections mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the drug, because their typical food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
