Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to universal availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the present best projected case, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by approaches including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost satiety so users eat less.
Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to patients may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the drug, because their normal appetite resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
