Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it releases its first advice on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase access, by strategies including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their usual food cravings come back.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
