Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by measures like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research suggests patients may see weight return within a year of stopping the drug, because their usual food cravings return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
