The Global Health Body Sounds Concern Over Severe Lack of Weight-Loss Injections
Under 10% of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift significant body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current best projected scenario, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand access, through measures like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their typical hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
