Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present most favorable case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase availability, by approaches such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests people may see weight return within a year of stopping the medication, when their normal hunger return.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your chance for developing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
