Under 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand access, via strategies like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
These medications imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to people may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the drug, when their typical appetite return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
