Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to 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 treated with thorough and lifelong support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to broad access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present best projected case, the production of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via strategies such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests patients may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, as their typical food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.