Less than one in 10 patients that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its first advice on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current best projected scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to widen access, by measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates people may see weight return after a year of halting the drug, when their normal hunger come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
