Fewer than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most favorable case, the supply of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to expand access, through measures such as licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so users reduce food intake.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence indicates people may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, because their normal hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity affects people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
