Under 10% of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its first recommendations on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the present best projected case, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to widen availability, through approaches like patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the medication, when their typical hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
