Fewer than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the present most optimistic case, the supply of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to widen access, through measures including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, as their normal appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for developing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
