Less than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its first recommendations on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to increase availability, via strategies like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
These medications mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so people reduce food intake.
Patients commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, because their normal appetite return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
