Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its first guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread access to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to widen access, via approaches including voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates people may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, when their typical appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
