Under one in 10 people who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to expand access, via strategies including licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to people may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the drug, when their usual hunger return.
To be overweight or obese increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
