Under one in 10 people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread access to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to expand access, through measures such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research suggests patients may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the drug, when their normal food cravings resume.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
