Under 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to widen access, by measures like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to people may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the medication, when their normal food cravings return.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your risk for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
