Fewer than one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to expand access, via strategies like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research points to people may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, as their normal hunger return.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
