Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it publishes its first recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to increase access, through measures such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users eat less.
Patients typically see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the treatment, because their typical food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for developing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
