Under 10% of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the current best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to widen access, by measures including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
The injections mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, because their usual food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
