Less than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it releases its initial advice on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift significant weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current best projected outlook, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The advice calls on governments and firms to widen availability, via approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies indicates users may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their typical hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your chance for contracting health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
