Less than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase availability, through strategies like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
Patients typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their normal food cravings return.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity affects people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
