Less than a tenth of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its first advice on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current most favorable scenario, the supply of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates people may see weight return a year later of halting the medication, when their typical hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
