Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and lifelong care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by measures such as licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research points to people may see weight return a year later of stopping the drug, when their typical hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
