Less than 10% of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its initial recommendations on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to increase access, via measures including patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the medication, because their normal hunger return.
To be carrying excess weight increases your chance for developing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
