Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to expand access, via strategies such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, as their normal appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
