Less than 10% of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its first advice on the drugs.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the current most favorable case, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to widen access, via approaches including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase satiety so individuals eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates people may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, when their usual food cravings return.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
