Fewer than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand availability, by approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
The injections mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
Patients typically start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, because their normal appetite return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
