Less than 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial advice on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the current best projected case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand access, via approaches such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
These medications mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people eat less.
People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies indicates users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their typical appetite return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
