Under a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first advice on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and continuous care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, via strategies including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so people reduce food intake.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research indicates people may see weight return a year later of stopping the medication, when their typical food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your risk for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
