Less than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the medications.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present best projected outlook, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen access, via strategies like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so users eat less.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the treatment, because their normal appetite return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
