Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its first advice on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the current best projected case, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to expand availability, via measures like patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research points to people may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, because their usual food cravings return.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
