Under one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its first advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to widen availability, by strategies like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates patients may see weight return a year later of stopping the drug, because their typical food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for experiencing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
