Under a tenth of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic case, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, via strategies like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research indicates people may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, because their usual hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
