Fewer than 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, by approaches such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
The injections mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies points to users may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, because their typical appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
