Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its first advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand access, via strategies including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, because their typical food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
