Under a tenth of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and lifelong treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to expand access, by strategies including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users eat less.
People commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the drug, as their normal appetite resume.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your chance for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
