Fewer than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the present best projected case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase availability, through measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, as their usual hunger resume.
To be carrying excess weight increases your risk for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
