Fewer than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the supply of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand access, by strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the treatment, when their normal hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
