Less than 10% of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural advice on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the current best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase availability, by strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Operate
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the drug, because their normal appetite resume.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
