Less than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and ongoing support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand availability, by measures including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research points to people may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, because their normal food cravings resume.
To be carrying excess weight raises your chance for developing health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
