Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on governments and firms to increase availability, via measures such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
People typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the treatment, because their typical hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
