Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it releases its initial advice on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the current most favorable case, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to widen availability, via measures including voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their normal appetite return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
