Under a tenth of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and lifelong care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to widen availability, via approaches such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so individuals eat less.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to patients may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the drug, when their normal hunger come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
