Less than a tenth of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its first advice on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and ongoing support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the current best projected scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via approaches like voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the medication, because their typical appetite return.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
