Less than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it issues its first guidance on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and ongoing support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the present best projected case, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand access, by measures like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users eat less.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence indicates patients may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the drug, because their typical food cravings return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
