Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The guideline urges governments and firms to widen access, via approaches such as patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the medication, as their normal food cravings resume.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
