Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it issues its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to expand access, via measures including licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to users may see weight return after a year of halting the medication, because their normal hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
