Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it issues its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges countries and companies to increase availability, through measures including patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their typical food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
