Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 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 such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
These medications replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates users may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the treatment, when their typical food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese raises your chance for developing health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
