Under a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its initial recommendations on the therapies.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to expand access, through approaches like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people eat less.
People commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the treatment, as their usual appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
