Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to universal access to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to increase access, via measures like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research suggests people may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, when their usual hunger come back.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your chance for developing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
