Fewer than 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the drugs.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and lifelong care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the present best projected scenario, the supply of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen availability, through strategies including voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so users reduce food intake.
People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies indicates users may see weight return after a year of halting the drug, because their usual appetite resume.
To be overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
