Under a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first advice on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and ongoing support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable body mass, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present best projected case, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, via strategies such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
The injections imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may see weight return within a year of stopping the treatment, because their typical food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
