Under 10% of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to increase access, via approaches including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
These medications replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence suggests patients may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, when their typical hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
