Less than 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to expand access, via measures like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the drug, when their typical appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
