Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to expand access, through approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
People usually see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the drug, because their normal food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
