Under one in 10 people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand availability, through approaches including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Patients commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the treatment, because their normal food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
