Less than 10% of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and continuous treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the present best projected outlook, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by measures like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people eat less.
People usually see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the drug, because their usual appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
