Under one in 10 individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the current most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase access, through measures such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence points to users may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the treatment, because their usual food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
