Fewer than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through approaches such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
These medications imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research points to users may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, when their usual food cravings resume.
To be overweight or obese raises your chance for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
