Fewer than a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to increase access, by measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People usually start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research points to patients may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the treatment, because their normal food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for experiencing health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
