Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through measures like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their typical food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
