Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and lifelong care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via measures such as patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies points to patients may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, as their typical appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
