Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen availability, through approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so users reduce food intake.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, as their typical appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for developing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
