Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
With over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to broad access to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable case, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through strategies such as patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, as their usual food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
