Under one in 10 patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its initial recommendations on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and lifelong care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the present best projected case, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to expand access, through approaches like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase satiety so people eat less.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research suggests patients may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their normal appetite come back.
To be above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
