Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to widen availability, by strategies such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so people reduce food intake.
Individuals typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the treatment, when their normal hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your chance for developing health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
