Under 10% of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is calling for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the current best projected scenario, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to widen availability, through strategies such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, when their normal hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
