Fewer than a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it publishes its first advice on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and continuous treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present best projected scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice urges countries and companies to increase access, through approaches such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to people may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, when their usual appetite resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
