Less than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current best projected outlook, the production of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to increase access, through strategies like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
These medications mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests patients may see weight return a year later of halting the drug, as their normal hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
