Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected case, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase access, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so users eat less.
People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research points to users may see weight return within a year of stopping the drug, because their typical hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
