Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial advice on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase access, via approaches including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence points to people may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the drug, because their typical hunger return.
To be overweight or obese increases your risk for developing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
