Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it releases its first recommendations on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the treatment, as their normal food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
