Fewer than one in 10 patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand access, by measures such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies indicates users may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, as their normal food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects people in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
