Under a tenth of patients who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to expand access, through strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
The injections imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, as their usual appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
