Fewer than one in 10 patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and ongoing treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the current most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to widen access, by measures like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
The injections imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their normal hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
