Fewer than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the therapies.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the current best projected outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to expand availability, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their normal hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for contracting health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
