Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and lifelong support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic case, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice calls on countries and companies to increase access, through approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase satiety so users reduce food intake.
Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, when their typical hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
