Fewer than a tenth of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial guidance on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and lifelong treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major barriers to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to increase access, by measures including patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Individuals usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their usual appetite return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
