Fewer than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand access, by measures including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies points to patients may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their usual appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
