Under 10% of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its initial guidance on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and lifelong care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to widen access, through measures like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence suggests people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, when their typical appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
