Fewer than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its initial advice on the therapies.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand access, via strategies like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
People typically start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, when their typical hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
