Less than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it publishes its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies indicates people may see weight return after a year of stopping the treatment, as their usual hunger come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
