Fewer than a tenth of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural advice on the medications.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to widespread access to the injections that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the current most optimistic scenario, the production of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to widen access, via strategies including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to users may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, as their typical appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
