Under 10% of people who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via measures like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
These medications replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests patients may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
