Fewer than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present best projected scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on countries and companies to increase availability, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, when their typical appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
