Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its first advice on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and ongoing support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key barriers to broad access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, via strategies like voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their usual hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your chance for contracting diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.