Fewer than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand access, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so users eat less.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the drug, when their typical food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight increases your chance for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
