Under one in 10 people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the present most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to increase availability, via measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
These medications mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to people may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, because their typical hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
