Fewer than 10% of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and ongoing support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to expand availability, through strategies like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, because their normal food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
