Under 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and lifelong support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present most optimistic scenario, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so people reduce food intake.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the drug, because their typical hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
