Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected case, the production of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to increase access, via strategies such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people eat less.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for contracting medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
