Under a tenth of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its first advice on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current best projected outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen availability, through strategies including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their normal appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for developing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
