Less than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the current most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand availability, via approaches including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to patients may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, because their usual hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for developing health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
