Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the current most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to expand availability, via strategies like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
These medications replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, because their usual appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
