Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Operate
The injections replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research suggests patients may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
