Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most favorable case, the production of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice encourages governments and firms to expand availability, by strategies such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Work
These medications replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so users eat less.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests patients may see weight return within a year of stopping the drug, because their typical food cravings come back.
To be above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
