Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via strategies like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their typical appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
