Fewer than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial guidance on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges 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 distribution challenges are major obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current best projected outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase access, via strategies such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so people eat less.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates patients may see weight return after a year of stopping the drug, when their typical appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for contracting diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
