Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by approaches like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Patients usually start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the medication, as their normal food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
