Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and lifelong care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand availability, through strategies like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence indicates users may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the treatment, because their typical appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
