Less than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current most favorable scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to expand availability, through strategies such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the treatment, when their typical food cravings resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
