Less than a tenth of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to increase access, via measures including licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people eat less.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their normal hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
