Fewer than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its first advice on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable case, the supply of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen access, through strategies including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies points to people may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, as their usual food cravings return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
