Under one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand availability, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
These medications mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance satiety so people reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the treatment, as their normal food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
