Less than one in 10 people that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its first recommendations on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the current best projected scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The advice urges countries and companies to increase access, via measures like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so users eat less.
Patients commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, when their usual food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
