Under a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to widen access, by strategies like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Individuals usually see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research indicates users may see weight return after a year of stopping the drug, because their typical hunger come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
