Less than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through strategies like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Function
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the drug, when their normal hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
