Fewer than one in 10 people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial recommendations on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and lifelong care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current best projected case, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to widen availability, by strategies like patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
Patients usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies indicates users may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the treatment, because their typical hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your chance for experiencing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
