Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural advice on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through approaches such as patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Operate
The injections imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies points to people may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the drug, as their normal appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for experiencing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
