Under one in 10 individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its initial advice on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand availability, via strategies such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase satiety so users consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research suggests people may see weight return after a year of halting the medication, as their typical appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for contracting health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
