Less than 10% of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, over two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand access, via strategies including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
These medications replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your chance for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
