Less than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most favorable case, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to expand access, via approaches like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the drug, as their normal hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
