Under a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its inaugural advice on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to expand access, by approaches like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so users eat less.
People typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, as their normal hunger return.
To be carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
