Under a tenth of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it releases its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and continuous support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase access, via measures such as licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies suggests users may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, because their typical food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for developing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
