Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the production of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to widen availability, via strategies including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Patients typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the medication, because their usual food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
