Less than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the present most favorable scenario, the production of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may see weight return a year later of halting the treatment, when their typical hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
