Less than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it issues its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to expand access, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research indicates people may see weight return within a year of halting the treatment, because their typical food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
