Under 10% of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected case, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to increase access, through strategies like patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
These medications mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, as their typical food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
