Fewer than 10% of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
With over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to expand availability, by approaches like licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their usual food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for contracting diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
