Less than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial guidance on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on countries and companies to increase availability, through approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates patients may see weight return within a year of stopping the treatment, when their typical appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your chance for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
