Fewer than 10% of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its first guidance on the medications.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, by strategies like voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research points to people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the drug, as their normal food cravings return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for contracting health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
