Less than 10% of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to expand availability, via strategies including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence suggests people may see weight return after a year of halting the drug, as their typical food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in every country and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
