Under 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand access, through strategies including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the drug, as their usual hunger return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for contracting health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
