Under one in 10 people who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and continuous support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the current best projected scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on countries and companies to widen access, via strategies like voluntary licensing.
A patent 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 replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the drug, when their normal hunger return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for developing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
