Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to widen access, through strategies such as patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
These medications replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may see weight return after a year of stopping the drug, when their usual hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for contracting diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
