Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its initial advice on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently obese, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the present most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand access, by strategies like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
These medications mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the medication, when their normal appetite return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
