Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the medications.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad access to the injections that can help people shift considerable body mass, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to expand access, through measures like voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so people eat less.
Patients usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence indicates people may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
