Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and lifelong treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to increase availability, through approaches such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, because their normal hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
