Less than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
These medications mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, as their typical hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
