Under a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its first guidance on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present best projected scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the drug, as their normal food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
