Under one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and ongoing treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, via measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, when their normal appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
