Fewer than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it issues its first advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major barriers to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to widen availability, through measures such as licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research indicates users may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the treatment, when their normal appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
