Less than one in 10 patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current most favorable case, the supply 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 calls on nations and manufacturers to increase access, through strategies such as patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests patients may see weight return within a year of halting the medication, as their typical appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
