Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the present most favorable scenario, the production of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to widen access, via measures including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
The injections mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research suggests users may see weight return a year later of stopping the drug, because their typical hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for developing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
