Fewer than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the current best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, via measures such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to patients may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, when their typical appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
