Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the current best projected case, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to expand access, via measures like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so users reduce food intake.
People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their usual food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
