Less than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Given over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and continuous treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice urges governments and firms to expand availability, via approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their normal food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
