Less than a tenth of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its first advice on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the current most favorable case, the supply of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to expand access, by measures such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so people eat less.
Patients usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the treatment, because their typical food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
