Fewer than a tenth of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural advice on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through approaches including licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
These medications imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the treatment, when their typical appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
