Fewer than a tenth of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to expand availability, through strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to users may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, because their usual food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
