Fewer than a tenth of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the present most optimistic case, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges governments and firms to increase availability, through approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
People usually see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual appetite resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
