Under one in 10 individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present best projected scenario, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to widen availability, through approaches like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so users consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies indicates patients may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their typical hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
