Under a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current best projected case, the production of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, through measures such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, when their usual hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for developing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
