Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, by approaches including licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so people eat less.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence indicates patients may see weight return a year later of halting the treatment, when their usual food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for developing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
