Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and ongoing treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand access, through measures including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
The injections imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost satiety so people eat less.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates people may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the drug, because their normal appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
