Fewer than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it releases its first guidance on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and ongoing care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase access, via strategies like voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients typically start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests users may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the drug, when their usual food cravings resume.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
