Less than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and ongoing support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to widen access, via strategies like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their normal appetite resume.
To be overweight or obese raises your chance for developing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
