Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present best projected case, the production of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand availability, through measures including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, when their usual hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
