Under one in 10 people that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand access, through strategies like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research indicates people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, when their typical hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
