Under 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key barriers to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to expand access, by measures including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, because their typical appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
