Less than 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its first recommendations on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to broad availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to increase availability, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the medication, when their typical hunger return.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for contracting health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
