Less than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its first guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the present best projected case, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by measures such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Operate
These medications mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so people eat less.
Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research indicates users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the drug, when their typical appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
