Fewer than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it releases its inaugural advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and lifelong treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the present best projected outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to widen availability, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research points to people may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the drug, as their usual appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for contracting health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
