Less than a tenth of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and lifelong treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand availability, through approaches like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the drug, when their normal food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
