Fewer than 10% of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to expand access, through approaches such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the treatment, because their typical food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
