Fewer than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current best projected outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to expand availability, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
The injections imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users eat less.
People commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates users may see weight return after a year of stopping the treatment, as their usual food cravings return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
