Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase availability, through approaches like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the medication, because their typical hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
