Less than a tenth of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its inaugural advice on the medications.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to widen availability, by measures like patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users reduce food intake.
People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their normal food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
