Less than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase access, by strategies like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase satiety so people reduce food intake.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, as their normal food cravings return.
To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
