Fewer than a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its initial advice on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to expand access, through measures including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Function
The injections replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the drug, when their usual food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
