Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to universal availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to increase availability, via strategies such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so people eat less.
Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests patients may see weight return within a year of halting the treatment, because their normal hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
