Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current best projected case, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to widen access, through strategies including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so users consume fewer calories.
People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies suggests patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, when their typical food cravings return.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
