Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and ongoing treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the present most favorable case, the supply of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on countries and companies to widen availability, via measures such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, because their usual food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
