Less than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the current most favorable scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through measures like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
These medications mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, because their normal appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
