Under one in 10 people that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift significant weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current best projected outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand access, by strategies like patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to patients may see weight return within a year of halting the medication, because their usual hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
