Under a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the therapies.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and continuous support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, via strategies including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies indicates patients may see weight return after a year of stopping the medication, as their normal food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for developing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
