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 inaugural advice on the medications.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the present best projected case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand availability, through strategies like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, because their usual food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for contracting diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
