Under a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the present most favorable outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand availability, by measures like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
People typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to patients may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the medication, when their typical hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
