Less than a tenth of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it releases its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present best projected outlook, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to expand access, by approaches including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
These medications mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence points to patients may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
