Under a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its first advice on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by approaches including voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their normal hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects people in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
