Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it releases its inaugural advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to increase access, through strategies like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Operate
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, when their usual food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your chance for experiencing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
