Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major barriers to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the present most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on countries and companies to widen availability, through measures such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research points to patients may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, when their normal food cravings return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for developing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
