Under 10% of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to increase availability, through measures including voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research points to people may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, when their normal appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
