Fewer than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected case, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, via strategies such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence suggests people may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their normal food cravings return.
To be carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
