Under 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable case, the supply of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to widen access, via approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests users may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the drug, as their usual appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
