Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to universal access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through strategies including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.
People usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their usual food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight increases your chance for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
