Less than one in 10 people that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural guidance on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to widen availability, via strategies such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Patients typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the drug, when their typical appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your chance for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
