Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the medications.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current best projected case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to increase availability, via approaches like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
The injections imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
People typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests users may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, as their normal hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
