Less than one in 10 patients who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its initial advice on the medications.
With over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and continuous support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase access, via strategies like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
These medications imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals eat less.
People typically start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates people may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their usual food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
