Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through approaches such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to users may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their normal food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for developing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
