Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current best projected outlook, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to expand availability, through measures including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users eat less.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research points to people may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their usual food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
