Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and continuous treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major barriers to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The advice urges countries and companies to increase availability, by approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to users may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, as their normal food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your chance for developing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
