Less than one in 10 patients who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first advice on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to widen access, through strategies including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people eat less.
People typically start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, when their typical hunger resume.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for developing health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.