Fewer than 10% of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and ongoing support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected scenario, the production of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, by approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people eat less.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research indicates users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their typical appetite resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your risk for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
