Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to widen availability, through strategies such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their usual appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
