Under one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice encourages countries and companies to increase availability, through strategies including licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so users eat less.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research suggests people may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the treatment, as their normal food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
