Less than a tenth of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase availability, via strategies including patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
People typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
