Less than one in 10 patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current best projected scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen access, through measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Operate
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people reduce food intake.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to patients may see weight return within a year of stopping the medication, as their usual food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
