Fewer than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its first recommendations on the therapies.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, through measures including licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the medication, as their typical appetite come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
