Less than 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it releases its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic case, the production of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to widen availability, through measures such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
These medications mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
People typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their usual appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for developing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
