Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by approaches such as patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
Patients typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the treatment, when their normal appetite come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
