Under a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its first advice on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current best projected case, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to widen access, by approaches such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research indicates users may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the treatment, because their usual food cravings return.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.