Fewer than a tenth of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the present best projected outlook, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to expand access, by approaches including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the drug, as their normal hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.