Under 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its initial advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to expand access, through measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their usual hunger return.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
