Under one in 10 individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for 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 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key barriers to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the production of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to increase access, via strategies including voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
