Under one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the current best projected scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to widen access, via measures like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, as their typical hunger come back.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
