Under 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial advice on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and continuous treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, says the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the production of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to widen access, through approaches like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies points to people may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
