Under a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to widen availability, through approaches such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, because their typical hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
