Under a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current best projected outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, by approaches including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Operate
The injections mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies suggests patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, because their normal appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
