Under a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the supply of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges governments and firms to widen access, via measures like voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research indicates users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, because their normal hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your chance for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
