Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the current most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand access, via measures including licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, as their normal appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
