Fewer than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Operate
The injections imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Individuals typically see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests people may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the drug, when their normal appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
