Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable case, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand availability, through measures such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
Patients typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research points to people may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the medication, as their usual food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
