Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The advice calls on governments and firms to expand availability, by approaches such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Operate
These medications imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, because their normal food cravings resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
