Fewer than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial guidance on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the present most favorable scenario, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase access, through approaches such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, when their typical appetite resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
