Less than 10% of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its first recommendations on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and lifelong care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to increase access, by measures including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance satiety so people reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the medication, as their usual appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
