Fewer than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its initial advice on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to expand access, via measures such as patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users reduce food intake.
People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, as their usual appetite resume.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
