Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice calls on countries and companies to widen access, through approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the medication, when their usual food cravings resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
