Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to widen availability, via strategies such as patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so users eat less.
Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, because their normal appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
