Under a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its first guidance on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to widen availability, via approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people eat less.
People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the medication, because their usual appetite come back.
To be above a healthy weight raises your chance for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
