Less than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to widen availability, by measures including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so users eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research points to users may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their typical food cravings come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your chance for developing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
