Less than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to expand availability, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the medication, as their normal hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
