Under one in 10 people that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic case, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen availability, by strategies such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, as their normal food cravings resume.
To be carrying excess weight increases your risk for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
