Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its initial guidance on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to increase availability, through approaches such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to users may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their normal hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
