Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it publishes its first advice on the therapies.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the current best projected outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to expand access, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Individuals usually see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the drug, as their typical food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for contracting health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
