Fewer than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
The injections imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the medication, when their normal food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
