Fewer than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its initial guidance on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most favorable scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to widen availability, through approaches including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the medication, because their normal hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
