Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it releases its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the present most favorable case, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to expand access, through measures like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the medication, when their typical food cravings come back.
To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
