Fewer than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present best projected scenario, the supply of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to widen access, through measures including patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence points to users may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the treatment, when their typical appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
