Under a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via measures such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so users reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the medication, as their typical appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your chance for contracting diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
