The Global Health Body Raises Concern Over Acute Lack of Weight-Loss Injections
Under a tenth of patients who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it publishes its initial guidance on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected outlook, the supply of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on countries and companies to widen access, through measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies suggests people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, as their usual food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for developing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
