Less than a tenth of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its inaugural advice on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase availability, via measures such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so users reduce food intake.
People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, because their typical hunger return.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
