Under 10% of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, via approaches including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase satiety so users reduce food intake.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the medication, when their usual hunger resume.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your chance for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
