Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its first advice on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, via strategies such as licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
The injections imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people eat less.
People usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their typical hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your chance for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
