Fewer than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its initial recommendations on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to expand availability, via strategies including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research suggests people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, because their usual appetite return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
