Fewer than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase access, through approaches including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates patients may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, when their normal appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight increases your risk for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
