Under a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present best projected case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to increase availability, by approaches like licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost satiety so people eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies suggests users may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, because their normal hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
