Under one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the supply of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, as their normal food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
