Under one in 10 patients who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and continuous care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current most favorable outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to increase access, through approaches like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the drug, when their usual appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
