Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its first guidance on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and continuous treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current best projected outlook, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase access, through approaches such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to users may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their normal hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
