Less than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial recommendations on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice calls on governments and firms to increase availability, via measures including voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the drug, because their usual food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your chance for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
