Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first recommendations on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and lifelong treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current most favorable case, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice encourages countries and companies to widen access, via measures like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
These medications imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence points to patients may see weight return after a year of halting the drug, because their usual food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
