Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present best projected outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to increase availability, via strategies like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, as their usual food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
