Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to widen availability, via strategies like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
These medications replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the medication, because their usual food cravings come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your chance for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
