Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice urges governments and firms to increase access, through approaches like licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence points to users may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the treatment, when their typical appetite return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
