Under a tenth of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and continuous treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the present best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to widen availability, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research points to patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, as their typical appetite come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your chance for experiencing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
