Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present best projected scenario, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to increase access, through approaches including licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people eat less.
People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the medication, because their usual hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for experiencing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
