Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it releases its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and continuous treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand access, by approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
These medications mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Individuals typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the drug, because their normal hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your risk for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
