Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its first guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The advice calls on countries and companies to expand availability, by measures like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the treatment, as their normal hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
