Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and lifelong treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to widen access, by strategies including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Patients commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, when their typical food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your chance for developing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
