Less than one in 10 people that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and lifelong care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via measures like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the medication, because their normal appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
