Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and ongoing support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to increase access, via measures including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
The injections imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to people may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the medication, as their usual hunger come back.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
