Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The advice urges governments and firms to widen access, through strategies including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies indicates people may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, when their typical food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
