Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its first advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current best projected outlook, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests people may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the medication, when their usual appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
