Under one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present most favorable scenario, the production of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
These medications replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the drug, as their typical appetite come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
