Less than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial advice on the medications.
With over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic case, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to expand availability, via measures such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their typical appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
