Less than 10% of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to broad availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to increase availability, by approaches such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
Individuals usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, as their typical appetite resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
