Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it releases its first guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the current most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to widen access, via approaches including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence points to users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their typical hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for developing health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
