Fewer than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first guidance on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current best projected scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to increase access, through approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
Individuals usually see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to people may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the treatment, as their normal appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your risk for contracting diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
