Fewer than a tenth of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it publishes its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand access, through measures like voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
These medications mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
People typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies points to patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the drug, when their usual food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
