Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to widen access, by approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Patients commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies indicates users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the drug, as their typical appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
