Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the current best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via measures like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
People usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the drug, because their typical appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
