Under one in 10 people that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current most favorable case, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on governments and firms to widen access, through strategies such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies points to patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the drug, because their usual food cravings return.
To be carrying excess weight increases your risk for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
