Under a tenth of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic outlook, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to increase access, through strategies like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to users may see weight return within a year of stopping the medication, as their normal hunger return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
