Under one in 10 people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and continuous support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The advice calls on governments and firms to expand availability, via strategies such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Patients typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical hunger resume.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
