Under a tenth of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected case, the supply of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to widen access, through strategies like voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
The injections mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so users eat less.
People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, when their usual hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
