Under 10% of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by strategies such as patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, when their usual food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for developing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
