Under a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to expand access, through strategies such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their normal hunger return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
