Under a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the medications.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the production of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by measures such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
The injections mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so people reduce food intake.
People typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the medication, when their usual appetite come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
