Under one in 10 individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current most optimistic case, the supply of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through measures such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests people may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the medication, as their normal hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your chance for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
