Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial advice on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most favorable case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase availability, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests patients may see weight return after a year of stopping the treatment, because their typical food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
