Under 10% of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the present best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand availability, by approaches including licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
The injections mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the drug, as their normal food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
