Fewer than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its first recommendations on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and lifelong support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the current most optimistic case, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase availability, through measures like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may see weight return after a year of stopping the treatment, because their normal food cravings return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
