Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to increase availability, through strategies like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests patients may see weight return within a year of halting the medication, when their typical food cravings resume.
To be overweight or obese increases your likelihood for contracting diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
