Under one in 10 people who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
With over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to increase access, via strategies including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their normal food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
