Under 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its initial guidance on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and lifelong treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the present best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people eat less.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies suggests people may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the medication, as their usual food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for developing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.