Less than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Given over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and lifelong support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key barriers to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to widen availability, via measures such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so users eat less.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates people may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, because their typical hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
