Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial advice on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand access, through approaches including licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients usually start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests people may see weight return after a year of stopping the drug, because their normal appetite resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
