Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the current most favorable scenario, the supply of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The advice calls on countries and companies to expand access, by strategies like patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies points to patients may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the drug, as their normal appetite return.
Being overweight or obese increases your chance for contracting medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
