Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its initial recommendations on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and lifelong treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen access, by strategies such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so people eat less.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates people may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the medication, as their typical appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your chance for contracting health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
