Fewer than a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to increase access, by measures such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the medication, when their typical food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
