Less than a tenth of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its first guidance on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and lifelong treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the present best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand availability, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
These medications mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals eat less.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the drug, because their typical hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
