Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to widen access, through strategies like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research indicates users may see weight return within a year of halting the medication, because their usual appetite resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
