Under 10% of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the present best projected case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to expand access, by approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People typically start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests patients may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the treatment, because their normal appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
