Less than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial recommendations on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to increase access, by measures including licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research suggests users may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the medication, because their typical appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
