Fewer than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it releases its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand availability, via approaches such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the drug, as their typical hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for contracting diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
