Fewer than 10% of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected scenario, the supply of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand availability, through strategies like patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, when their usual food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
