Less than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, via approaches including patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so users eat less.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates users may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the drug, as their normal appetite resume.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
