Fewer than a tenth of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and lifelong care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand access, through approaches like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so users reduce food intake.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the medication, when their usual food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
