Less than one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to expand availability, through approaches such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests patients may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for developing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
