Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current most optimistic case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice calls on governments and firms to increase availability, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the drug, because their usual appetite come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your risk for developing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
