Under a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it publishes its first recommendations on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and lifelong support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic case, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to expand access, through measures including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users eat less.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, when their usual food cravings come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your chance for contracting health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
