Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present best projected outlook, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to widen access, via approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates patients may see weight return a year later of halting the treatment, when their usual appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
