Under one in 10 patients who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and ongoing care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice encourages countries and companies to widen availability, by approaches including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Operate
The injections imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence suggests people may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, when their typical hunger resume.
To be carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
