Under one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its inaugural advice on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current best projected scenario, the production of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, by measures like licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase satiety so users eat less.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates users may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, as their usual hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
