Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it issues its first advice on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable case, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand availability, by approaches including patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their usual appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
