Under one in 10 patients who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to broad access to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, via approaches such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to patients may see weight return within a year of halting the treatment, when their usual hunger return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for developing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity affects people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
