Less than 10% of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it issues its initial guidance on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and ongoing care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on governments and firms to expand availability, through measures including patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients typically start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence points to users may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, because their usual food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for developing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
