Under one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to expand access, through strategies such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the drug, because their usual appetite return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for contracting medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
