Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
Given over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and ongoing treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current most favorable scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, through approaches like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
People typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, because their typical appetite resume.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for contracting diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
