Fewer than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and continuous treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to expand availability, through measures including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, because their usual appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your chance for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
