Fewer than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by strategies such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests people may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, when their usual food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
