Fewer than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and ongoing treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges countries and companies to expand availability, via approaches such as licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users reduce food intake.
People usually start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests users may see weight return a year later of stopping the medication, when their normal hunger come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
