Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand access, by approaches like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence indicates patients may see weight return within a year of stopping the medication, when their typical hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
