Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its first guidance on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The advice urges governments and firms to expand access, via strategies like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research points to patients may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, because their typical hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your chance for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
