Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and lifelong treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to widen availability, through measures like voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so users eat less.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates users may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the drug, because their usual hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
