Less than 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to increase access, via approaches including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
The injections imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
People usually start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, when their usual hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
