Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its first guidance on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and ongoing care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase access, via measures such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so people eat less.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, because their normal appetite come back.
To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
