Less than a tenth of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and continuous care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to widen access, via approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so people eat less.
Individuals usually see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may see weight return a year later of halting the drug, as their normal food cravings resume.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
