Under 10% of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and continuous care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies points to people may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the drug, when their typical food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
