Less than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to expand access, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies suggests users may see weight return after a year of stopping the drug, as their typical hunger return.
Being overweight or obese increases your chance for developing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
