Under a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the present best projected outlook, the supply of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through measures including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the medication, as their typical appetite come back.
To be overweight or obese elevates your chance for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
