Less than a tenth of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the therapies.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and continuous care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to widen access, through measures such as licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the drug, because their normal food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
