Fewer than one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the supply of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, when their typical hunger return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
