Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its first advice on the drugs.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to widen access, via strategies including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
These medications mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies suggests people may see weight return a year later of halting the treatment, when their typical food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
