Fewer than a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and lifelong care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand access, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates users may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the treatment, because their normal food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
