Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the current most favorable case, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via measures including licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so users reduce food intake.
Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the treatment, as their typical hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
