Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first recommendations on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable weight, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic scenario, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase access, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies suggests users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, because their typical appetite return.
Being overweight or obese raises your chance for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
