Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, says the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand availability, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates users may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, as their typical appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
