Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it releases its initial advice on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and lifelong care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand availability, via approaches like patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
People commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, as their usual hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
