Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and lifelong treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on governments and firms to increase access, by strategies like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Operate
These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates users may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the medication, when their normal hunger come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
