Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it publishes its initial guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and continuous treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, through measures like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
These medications replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, when their normal hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for developing health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
