Under one in 10 people that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the present most favorable scenario, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to widen access, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so people eat less.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, when their usual appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
