Under a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and ongoing care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current most favorable scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to increase access, through measures such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, when their usual hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for contracting health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
