Under one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its initial advice on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present best projected outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via approaches like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
These medications mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to people may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the medication, because their usual appetite come back.
To be carrying excess weight increases your risk for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
