Fewer than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, via measures such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, as their normal hunger return.
To be overweight or obese increases your chance for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
