Under 10% of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand availability, via approaches including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
People usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence points to patients may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual food cravings come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
