Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand access, by strategies like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence points to people may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, as their typical food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
