Under a tenth of patients who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its first recommendations on the medications.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand availability, by strategies including licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence points to people may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their typical food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
