Less than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the current best projected outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, through approaches including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies suggests people may see weight return within a year of stopping the treatment, when their normal hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
