Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural advice on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic case, the supply of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand availability, by strategies including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, as their typical hunger return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
