Less than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable 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 acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to widen availability, by measures like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
