Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first recommendations on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and lifelong care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the present most favorable scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand access, through measures like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests people may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their usual appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
