Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the therapies.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to increase access, through measures like licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence indicates users may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the drug, because their normal hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
