Fewer than 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its initial recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase access, through approaches including licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
These medications mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
People usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research points to people may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, when their normal food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
