Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and continuous care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the treatment, as their normal hunger return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
