Under 10% of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the current most favorable case, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to widen availability, by approaches including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, because their usual food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
