Fewer than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its first advice on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via measures including licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
People commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the drug, when their usual appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
