Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current best projected scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by approaches including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so people eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the medication, because their usual food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
