Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the therapies.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the current most favorable case, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to widen availability, by approaches including patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research suggests people may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the drug, because their typical hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
