Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first 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 this class of drugs.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and continuous treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable body mass, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the present best projected case, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase access, via approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so individuals eat less.
Patients commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates patients may see weight return after a year of stopping the medication, as their normal hunger resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
