Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic scenario, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to expand availability, through measures such as licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research points to people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the drug, because their typical food cravings resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
