Less than one in 10 patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO 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 advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by approaches including licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase satiety so users eat less.
People commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies indicates people may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their normal appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
