Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the medications.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice calls on governments and firms to widen access, by measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, as their usual hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your chance for contracting health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
