Under a tenth of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen access, through strategies like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research suggests people may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the drug, as their normal food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese raises your risk for developing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
