Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, via strategies such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence suggests people may see weight return within a year of stopping the treatment, as their normal food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for developing diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
