Fewer than 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural advice on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and lifelong care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current best projected scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to widen access, through approaches including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Operate
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People typically start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to people may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their typical food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your chance for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
