Fewer than one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the therapies.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the current most favorable scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to increase availability, via strategies such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the drug, as their usual food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your chance for developing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
