Fewer than one in 10 people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and ongoing support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by approaches such as patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research points to users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical food cravings come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your chance for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
