Less than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the medications.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and lifelong care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice calls on countries and companies to widen access, by measures such as patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Operate
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research points to patients may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the drug, as their usual appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
