Under 10% of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and continuous support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, says the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to expand access, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the treatment, as their typical appetite come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your chance for contracting diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
