Fewer than 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to widen availability, through measures including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research indicates users may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the medication, when their usual food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for contracting health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects people in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
