Under one in 10 people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to expand availability, through measures including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research suggests users may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, when their typical hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
