Fewer than one in 10 patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it publishes its first advice on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the current best projected scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to expand availability, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people eat less.
Individuals usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research indicates people may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, as their normal food cravings resume.
To be carrying excess weight raises your chance for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
