Fewer than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present most optimistic case, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand access, by strategies including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so users reduce food intake.
Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the drug, as their typical food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
