Fewer than one in 10 patients who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it releases its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the current most favorable case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand access, through measures such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Function
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, as their typical food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
