Fewer than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its first advice on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current most optimistic case, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen access, via approaches such as licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the drug, because their normal hunger return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
