Less than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it publishes its first advice on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and continuous treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current best projected case, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to widen availability, via measures such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so people eat less.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates users may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the medication, because their typical food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
