Fewer than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its first advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to increase access, through approaches such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
These medications imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests people may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the medication, as their usual hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
