Under one in 10 people who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the present most favorable scenario, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand availability, through strategies like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research indicates users may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their normal food cravings resume.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
