Under 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, over two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected scenario, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to widen access, via approaches including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Function
The injections imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research suggests users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, when their typical hunger resume.
To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
