Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and continuous care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to expand access, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, when their normal food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
