Under 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase access, by approaches including licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so people eat less.
Patients usually start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the drug, as their normal food cravings resume.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
