Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial recommendations on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase access, through approaches including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates users may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, when their typical food cravings return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your chance for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
