Fewer than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and ongoing treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase availability, via strategies such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence indicates people may see weight return a year later of halting the medication, as their normal hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your chance for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
