Fewer than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it issues its first recommendations on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so users reduce food intake.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, when their typical appetite return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects people in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
