Under a tenth of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges governments and firms to increase access, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to users may see weight return after a year of halting the drug, as their normal food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for developing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
