Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the present most favorable scenario, the production of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, by approaches including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the medication, because their normal food cravings resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for developing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
