Fewer than one in 10 people that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present best projected case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
These medications mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their normal hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
