Fewer than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and continuous support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen availability, by strategies such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
People typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their normal food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for contracting diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
