Under one in 10 patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via measures including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so individuals eat less.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research indicates users may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the drug, as their normal food cravings resume.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for developing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
