Fewer than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and continuous care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present most favorable case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, via measures including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the drug, as their usual hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
