Less than 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial guidance on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and lifelong treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via measures including patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
The injections mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research suggests people may see weight return within a year of halting the medication, as their typical hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
