Under one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through measures like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, when their normal hunger come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
