Fewer than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its initial advice on the medications.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to expand availability, through measures including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase satiety so users reduce food intake.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies indicates users may see weight return after a year of stopping the medication, as their usual hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
