Under 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its inaugural advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to widen access, via measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the treatment, as their usual appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your chance for developing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
