Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it publishes its first recommendations on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and ongoing treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to widespread availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the present most favorable scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to expand availability, through measures like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase satiety so people reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests patients may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their typical appetite come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
