Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its first recommendations on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the current most favorable outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand access, via measures including licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
Patients commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests people may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the treatment, as their usual appetite come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
