Fewer than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its first advice on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most favorable case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, via measures including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Patients typically start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, because their usual appetite resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.