Less than a tenth of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and ongoing care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the current most optimistic case, the production of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to expand access, by approaches including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients typically see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research suggests users may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their usual hunger return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
