Under 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its initial advice on the therapies.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to expand access, through measures like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research indicates users may see weight return after a year of halting the drug, as their normal food cravings return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
