Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the current most favorable case, the supply of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand access, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies points to patients may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, as their typical food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for developing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
