Less than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the drugs.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present most optimistic outlook, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to widen availability, via strategies including patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, because their usual food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
