Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and ongoing support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the current best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to increase access, via approaches like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so individuals eat less.
Patients usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their normal hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
