Fewer than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests people may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the medication, as their typical hunger return.
Being overweight or obese increases your chance for contracting medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
