Fewer than one in 10 patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it releases its initial advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can help people shift considerable body mass, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to increase access, via strategies including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
The injections replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests patients may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the drug, when their usual food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
