Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the present most favorable scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via strategies such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies indicates patients may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their typical food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your chance for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
