Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to increase availability, via strategies including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies points to people may see weight return within a year of stopping the drug, as their typical food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
