Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand availability, by measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research indicates people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, as their typical appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
