Fewer than one in 10 people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the current best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through measures including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
People commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the drug, as their typical food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
