Fewer than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its first advice on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and continuous care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to widen availability, via approaches such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence suggests patients may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, because their normal appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
