Fewer than 10% of patients who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase availability, through strategies including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to patients may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, because their usual hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
