Fewer than one in 10 patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the current most favorable scenario, the supply of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, by strategies including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, because their typical food cravings return.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
