Fewer than 10% of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the therapies.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to expand availability, through approaches including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance satiety so people reduce food intake.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, as their normal food cravings return.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
