Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it issues its first guidance on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and continuous care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, via measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, as their typical food cravings return.
Being overweight or obese raises your chance for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
