Less than 10% of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial guidance on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand access, by strategies such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual appetite come back.
To be carrying excess weight increases your chance for contracting diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
