Fewer than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase availability, via strategies including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Work
These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, because their normal food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight increases your chance for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
