Less than a tenth of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to expand access, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Work
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the drug, as their typical hunger return.
Being overweight or obese increases your chance for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
