Less than 10% of people who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current best projected case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to increase availability, by approaches like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests people may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, when their usual appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your chance for contracting health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
