Under one in 10 patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its initial advice on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the current best projected case, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to expand access, by strategies such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to people may see weight return a year later of halting the drug, as their usual appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
