Under 10% of patients who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and ongoing care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major barriers to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by strategies including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Patients usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the drug, as their usual appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
