Less than a tenth of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the current most favorable outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to widen access, by 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 Injections Function
The injections mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research indicates people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, because their typical appetite return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
