Less than 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its first advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the present best projected case, the supply of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice encourages governments and firms to increase access, by measures like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people eat less.
People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research indicates patients may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the drug, because their normal appetite resume.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
