Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it issues its first recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to increase access, via measures such as licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance satiety so people eat less.
Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests patients may see weight return after a year of halting the medication, as their typical hunger resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for developing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
