Under 10% of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and continuous treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the present most favorable case, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice urges countries and companies to increase availability, through strategies including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Operate
The injections imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so users eat less.
Patients typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their normal hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
