Less than one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and lifelong treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the production of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen availability, through approaches including voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence points to patients may see weight return a year later of halting the medication, because their usual food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight increases your risk for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
