Less than a tenth of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and lifelong support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current best projected scenario, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand availability, via approaches including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests people may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for developing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
