Fewer than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its initial advice on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand access, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the drug, because their usual hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
