Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its first recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to increase availability, via measures including licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so users eat less.
People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies points to patients may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their usual appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
