Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and lifelong care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current best projected scenario, the supply of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to increase access, through measures like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so people reduce food intake.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research indicates users may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their normal hunger resume.
To be above a healthy weight increases your chance for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
