Less than 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through approaches such as patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence indicates users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their normal appetite come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your chance for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
