Fewer than a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to expand access, by strategies including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may see weight return within a year of stopping the treatment, when their normal food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
