Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the therapies.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and continuous support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current best projected scenario, the production of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to expand access, by strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Patients commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research suggests patients may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the medication, when their typical food cravings return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
