Less than one in 10 people that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and ongoing support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the current most favorable outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through strategies including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
These medications mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people eat less.
People usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to people may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the drug, as their typical hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
