Fewer than 10% of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its first guidance on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected case, the supply of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand availability, through measures such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
