Under one in 10 individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and lifelong care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
People usually see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the drug, because their normal food cravings come back.
To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
