Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its initial guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current best projected outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand availability, via strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research indicates people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, when their typical appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
