Less than one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the present best projected case, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges governments and firms to widen access, via measures including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the treatment, because their usual hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
