Less than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to broad access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to widen access, via strategies like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
People typically start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research indicates users may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their usual appetite come back.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your chance for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
