Less than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and lifelong support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to expand access, through approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the treatment, when their typical hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
