Fewer than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift considerable body mass, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to expand availability, via strategies like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates users may see weight return after a year of stopping the drug, because their typical appetite return.
To be overweight or obese raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.