Under a tenth of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and continuous care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to expand availability, by approaches such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
The injections replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so users eat less.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the drug, as their usual food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
