Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The advice urges governments and firms to expand availability, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the drug, because their typical hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
