Under one in 10 patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current best projected outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to expand availability, through approaches such as licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people eat less.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates users may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the treatment, when their normal appetite resume.
To be overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
