Fewer than 10% of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its first guidance on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase availability, through approaches like patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their typical food cravings resume.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
