Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift significant weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the current best projected case, the supply of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to increase availability, through measures including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so users eat less.
Patients commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to users may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the medication, when their usual food cravings resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your risk for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
