Fewer than one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for 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.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to expand access, via approaches including patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the drug, when their typical food cravings return.
To be carrying excess weight increases your risk for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
